EFFECT OF FEAR OF FALL ON ACTIVITIES OF DAILY LIVING IN ELDER WOMEN AFTER RETURNING FROM LOWER LIMB INJURIES/SURGERIES

Abstract

The purpose of this cross-sectional study was to determine the effect of fear of fall on activities of daily living in elder women after returning from lower limb injuries/surgeries. The participants were selected through purposive sampling, a type of non-probability sampling, from rehabilitation centers and hospitals in total 94 respondents. The study included elder women aged 60 years and over who had suffered from lower limb injuries/surgery and had the ability to understand and fill the questionnaires. Severe neurological disorders, cognitive impairment, uncontrolled medical diseases or recent severe trauma were excluded. Fear of fall was measured using the Falls Efficacy Scale International (FES-I) and activities of daily living were assessed using the Barthel Index. Data was analysed using SPSS version 27. Pearson Chi-Square test was used to assess the relationship between fear of falling and ADLs. The results showed that fear of falling was associated with a decreased independence in activities of daily living in the elder women. The results revealed that there was a statistically significant relationship between fear of fall and activities of daily living (p < 0.05), which means that fear of fall was negatively associated with functional independence following lower limb injuries/surgeries. The study concluded that psychological factors such as fear of fall play an important role in recovery and daily functional performance in elderly women.