An assessment of mobility and fall behaviour among older patients admitted to the orthopaedic outpatient clinic [Ortopedı polıklınığıne başvuran yaşli hastalarin mobılıte ve düşme davranişlarinin değerlendırılmesi]

Introduction: Unintentional falls in older individuals can lead to fatal and non-fatal injuries. This study aimed to determine the risk factors for falls among elderly patients and to specify the timely safety measures that can be taken to prevent falls in the elderly population. Materials and Method: This study is a descriptive, cross-sectional study of containing 178 older patients. Data for the study were collected with the sociodemographic questionnaire form, Rivermead Mobility Index and the Falls Behavioural Scale for the Older Persons. Results: The mean age of the 178 patients in this study was 67.14±5.95 years and 56.7% (n=101) were female, 43.3% (n=77) were male. The patients who had a fear of falling and the patients who fell within the previous year; had a statistically significant level of low physical activity (p=0.019, p=0.033). Males (p=0.002), those aged 80 years and above, married patients, high school graduates, those on continuous medication and those who fell within the previous year had higher mean Falls Behavioural Scale scores (p<0.001). Conclusion: It may be beneficial to make the necessary arrangements that would not pose a risk in neighbourhoods populated by older adults; to assess their level of mobility when they show up for routine examination; to take adequate safety measures after determining their needs according to their mobility status and to organize the prescribed drugs according to falling probability. © 2019, Geriatrics Society. All rights reserved.