Age and Gender Differences in Home Injury Prevention Awareness and Behaviors Among Community-Dwelling Older Adults

This study aimed to examine awareness and behaviors related to injury prevention in the home among community-dwelling older adults according to age and gender.

In this cross-sectional descriptive study, 299 adults aged ≥65 years who visited 10 senior welfare centers in Korea were included. Data were collected through structured face-to-face interviews using a questionnaire assessing general characteristics, awareness, and behaviors related to home injury prevention. Descriptive statistics, the chi-squared test, independent t-test, and one-way analysis of variance were used for data analysis.

Levels of interest in home injuries and awareness of first aid differed significantly by age and gender. The possession of a home emergency kit and participation in regular health check-ups varied by age, while the intention to participate in injury-prevention education differed by gender. Overall, female participants demonstrated higher levels of injury-prevention behavior than male participants.

Older adults showed lower awareness and practice of specific home injury-prevention strategies, while women exhibited greater awareness and preventive behaviors than men. These findings suggest that tailored home injury-prevention interventions that consider age and gender characteristics may yield more effective and positive outcomes.