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FALL PREVENTION SERVICES FOR OLDER ADULT, AMERICAN INDIANS/ALASKA NATIVES: AN EXAMINATION OF KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDES, AND PRACTICES OF HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS

Ducore, Susan Elizabeth
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=casednp152581877516155

Abstract Details

2018, Doctor of Nursing Practice , Case Western Reserve University, School of Nursing.
Background and Purpose: Falls and fall-related injuries are an ongoing public health concern since one in three adults over 65 years of age is expected to fall each year and, of those who fall, an estimated 33 % will require a medical intervention. Despite the evidence that most older-adult falls are preventable and that evidence-based clinical practice guidelines for identifying and managing risk are widely available, often a gap between scientific evidence and clinical practice exists. This study examined, within the context of Indian healthcare organizations, health care providers’ knowledge of, attitudes toward, and practice (KAP) of evidence-based, older adult fall prevention and the potential relationships among these concepts. The Promoting Action on Research in Health Services framework was selected to guide the study and interpretation of findings since knowledge, attitude, and behavior may influence fall prevention practice and are, for the purpose of this study, considered sub-factors in terms of the framework. Methods: A self-administered, Likert-type, questionnaire was distributed on-line to 222 health care providers (HCPs). It was completed by 33 health care professionals, employees of one or more of the approximately 41 federally-funded tribal healthcare organizations located within the California Area Indian Health Service. Results: Fewer than half of the health care providers (33 %) indicated “very knowledgeable” about older adult fall prevention. Most (97 %) acknowledged that preventing falls in older adults is “urgent’ or “somewhat urgent”. A majority of health care providers perceived older adult fall prevention as “very important”, responses at 85 % and above. However, practice-wise, as to the six older adult fall prevention services, most indicated their organizations provided them only “sometimes or for some patients” or by “referral to other person or organization”. No statistically significant relationships were found between aggregate survey subscale items identified with knowledge, attitude and practice variables. The analysis did indicate statistically significant relationships between various HCP knowledge and attitude associated survey items. Discussion: Study findings indicate that HCPs’ attitude (perception) is consistent with scientific evidence-based, older adult fall prevention, however that gaps, in terms of HCPs’ knowledge and organizational practice, exist. These findings have implications for enhancing the effectiveness of older adult fall prevention services offered by American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN)-serving healthcare organizations, for inspiring future research geared toward examining older adult AI/AN knowledge, attitudes and practices associated with fall prevention, and ultimately for improving health outcomes for older adult AI/ANs.
Deborah Lindell (Committee Chair)
Carol Musil (Committee Member)
Bruce Finke (Committee Member)
149 p.
Health Care; Native Americans; Nursing; Public Health
knowledge; attitudes; practice; community-dwelling AI AN; American Indian Alaska Native, older adult fall prevention; fall risk reduction; evidence-based clinical practice guidelines; community-based fall prevention; health care provider

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Ducore, S. E. (2018). FALL PREVENTION SERVICES FOR OLDER ADULT, AMERICAN INDIANS/ALASKA NATIVES: AN EXAMINATION OF KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDES, AND PRACTICES OF HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS [Doctoral dissertation, Case Western Reserve University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=casednp152581877516155

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Ducore, Susan. FALL PREVENTION SERVICES FOR OLDER ADULT, AMERICAN INDIANS/ALASKA NATIVES: AN EXAMINATION OF KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDES, AND PRACTICES OF HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS. 2018. Case Western Reserve University, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=casednp152581877516155.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Ducore, Susan. "FALL PREVENTION SERVICES FOR OLDER ADULT, AMERICAN INDIANS/ALASKA NATIVES: AN EXAMINATION OF KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDES, AND PRACTICES OF HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS." Doctoral dissertation, Case Western Reserve University, 2018. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=casednp152581877516155

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

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© 2018, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by Case Western Reserve University Doctor of Nursing Practice and OhioLINK.