Disciplines
Medicine and Health Sciences
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Falls place older adults at risk for injuries, resulting in functional decline, hospitalization, institutionalization, higher healthcare costs, and decreased quality of life.
OBJECTIVE: This study examined community-dwelling elderly to identify if individuals with a history of cancer fall at a higher rate than those without cancer, and if the occurrence of falls was influenced by individual characteristics, symptoms, or function.
METHODS: This was a retrospective, cross-sectional study, in 2007, examining 7,448 community-dwelling elderly 65 years or older in a state in the Midwest. Fallers were identified based on a diagnosis of cancer, age, sex, race and ethnicity, poor vision, reduced activities of daily living (ADLs), instrumental ADLs, cognition, incontinence, pain, or depression.
RESULTS: Findings indicated that 2,125 (28.5%) had at least 1 fall. Of those who fell, 967 (13.0%) had cancer, and 363 (4.9%) with cancer had a fall.
CONCLUSION: Predictors of falls in this population included race, sex, ADLs, incontinence, depression, and pain, all with P
IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: This study found a high frequency of falls and suggests a predictive model for fall risk in the vulnerable, community-dwelling elderly and will be used to inform future studies.
ScholarWorks Citation
Spoelstra, Sandra L.; Given, Barbara; von Eye, Alexander; and Given, Charles W., "Falls in the Community Dwelling Elderly with a History of Cancer" (2010). Peer Reviewed Articles. 31.
https://scholarworks.gvsu.edu/kcon_articles/31
Original Citation
Spoelstra, S., Given, B., von Eye, A., & Given, C. (2010). Falls in the Community-Dwelling Elderly With a History of Cancer: Cancer Nursing, 33(2), 149–155. http://doi.org/10.1097/NCC.0b013e3181bbbe8a
