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Decision Making After a Fall: Preliminary Findings Examining the Experiences of Older Women and their Sources of Information
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Methods: In-depth, semi-structured interviews were conducted in Winter 2013/14 with independent women living in a retirement community who had experienced a fall within the last six months, as well as the key individuals involved in their post-fall DM. Data were analyzed using inductive open coding and examined for themes.
Results: Six white women (four widowed, two married), aged 82-97 (Mage=89.3) were interviewed, most of whom had suffered a fall-related injury to a hip or arm. Five white SIs were interviewed, which included the women's husbands, daughter, and staff (age range=31-93, Mage=65.2). One woman did not report having a SI during her post-fall DM.
Women used two types of post-fall DM processes: 1) health promoting DM, including self-monitoring/prevention (e.g., being careful) and rehabilitation (e.g., physical therapy); 2) relational DM, which encompasses how others perceive them and their impact on others (e.g., burden). SIs were involved in both types of processes by: 1) discussing next steps; 2) offering encouragement/support, and/or providing information when asked.
Discussion: Post-fall DM is a complex process that is not made in a vacuum. More research is needed to explore how women's post-fall decisions vary by SI or lack thereof, and how the DM process can ultimately influence perceived independence and quality of life.
Learning Areas:
Advocacy for health and health educationPublic health or related education
Public health or related research
Social and behavioral sciences
Learning Objectives:
Assess older women's decisions and decision making processes after a fall.
Describe the role of the women's sources of information in this process.
Keyword(s): Aging, Decision-Making
Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: This work is part of my doctoral dissertation. I developed the interview guides, obtained IRB approval, conducted the interviews with the older women and their main sources of information, and analyzed the interview transcripts.
Any relevant financial relationships? No
I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.