Elderly caregiver: knowledge, attitudes and practices about falls and its prevention

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Public Health
• Nursing

Background:

• Falls are a significant threat to elderly health and independence.
• Informal caregivers play a crucial role in elderly well-being and fall prevention.
• Understanding caregiver knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) is vital for effective interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of informal elderly caregivers regarding falls and their prevention.
• To assess the depth of caregiver understanding and its impact on preventative actions.
• To identify gaps in caregiver KAP for targeted support.

Main Methods:

• A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted.
• The study included 97 informal elderly caregivers in Cuiabá.
• Data were collected from participants residing in areas served by five Health Strategy Units (ESF).

Main Results:

• Over half of caregivers demonstrated awareness of falls as a problem and identified some risk factors and prevention methods.
• More than half exhibited attitudes suggesting ineffective action towards fall prevention.
• Most caregivers reported supervising daily activities, indicating some preventative practices.

Conclusions:

• Caregivers possess a superficial knowledge of falls and prevention.
• This limited understanding appears to influence caregiver attitudes and practices.
• There is a need for enhanced education and support for informal caregivers to improve fall prevention efficacy.