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Fall attributions among middle-aged and older adults with multiple sclerosis
Elizabeth W Peterson1, Eynat Ben Ari, Miho Asano
1Department of Occupational Therapy, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA.
Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
|December 4, 2012
Summary
Middle-aged and older adults with multiple sclerosis (MS) most commonly attribute falls to balance issues, leg problems, or assistive technology. Perceived control over falls is linked to balance attributions, while mobility device use relates to assistive technology attributions.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Neurology
- Rehabilitation Science
Background:
- Falls are a significant concern for middle-aged and older adults with multiple sclerosis (MS).
- Understanding the reasons individuals attribute their falls is crucial for effective prevention strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the attributions for falls in middle-aged and older adults diagnosed with MS.
- To identify personal, health, and MS-related factors associated with the most common fall attributions.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional, descriptive study was conducted with 354 community-dwelling adults aged 55+ with MS.
- Data were collected via telephone interviews, including open-ended questions about participants' most recent fall.
- The three most frequent fall attributions served as dependent variables for analysis.
Main Results:
- Fourteen distinct fall attributions were identified, with balance (41.5%), lower extremity malfunction (31%), and assistive technology (29.7%) being the most common.
- Perceived control over falls was significantly associated with the balance attribution (OR=0.51).
- Use of multiple mobility devices was significantly associated with the assistive technology attribution (OR=3.78).
Conclusions:
- Falls in older adults with MS are complex, necessitating comprehensive prevention interventions.
- Further research is needed to understand the role of perceived control in fall prevention for this population.
- Attribution analysis provides valuable insights for tailoring fall prevention programs.
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