The Correlation Between Fall Prevention Knowledge and Behavior in Stroke Outpatients

Knowledge and practices of elderly women about fall prevention

OBJECTIVE

Unveil the knowledge and practices of elderly women about the prevention of falls. Methods: Qualitative, exploratory-descriptive research, developed with eight elderly women from a community group at a Basic Health Unit in the state of Paraná. Data were obtained through individual interviews, submitted to lexicographical analysis through the Descending Hierarchical Classification using the IRaMuTeQ® software, and discussed with the theoretical-analytical framework of Paulo Freire's Praxis.

RESULTS

Six classes emerged: 1. Experiences, background, and practices of Health Education; 2. Advancing age as a factor for the occurrence of falls; 3. Fall prevention practices; 4. Falls and their consequences; 5. Importance of preventive practices; and 6. Environmental and behavioral risk factors in the elderly's home.

CONCLUSION

Knowledge and practices were learned from experiences, background, and educational practices in Primary Health Care, implemented in praxis and mediated by concrete reality and emancipatory dialogue.

Clinical Observation of Comfort Nursing Combined With Continuous Nursing Intervention After Discharge on Improving Pressure Ulcers, Falls, Quality of Life, and Prognosis in Patients With Intracerebral Hemorrhage

In this prospective study, we randomly divided 131 patients with intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) who met the inclusion criteria into two groups. One group received routine nursing during hospitalization, and the “Stroke Prevention Knowledge Manual” was issued before discharge, and was recorded as the control group (n = 61); one group received comfort nursing during hospitalization, and implemented continuous nursing after discharge, and was recorded as the research group (n = 70). The indicators we observed were the occurrence of pressure ulcers and falls during the hospitalization of the two groups of patients and the improvement in neurological function, limb function, quality of life, ability of daily living, and emotional state after the intervention. We also compared the disability degree of the two groups 6 months after discharge, the readmission status within 6 months of discharge, and the nursing satisfaction after the intervention. Our conclusion is that comfort nursing combined with continuous nursing intervention after discharge can effectively reduce the occurrence of pressure ulcers and falls during the nursing period of patients with ICH and contribute to the improvement of their quality of life and prognosis. It is worthy of clinical promotion.

Saberes e práticas de mulheres idosas sobre prevenção de quedas

RESUMO Objetivo Desvelar os saberes e práticas de mulheres idosas sobre prevenção de quedas. Métodos: Pesquisa qualitativa, exploratório-descritiva, desenvolvida com oito idosas de um grupo de convivência de uma Unidade Básica de Saúde no estado do Paraná. Os dados foram obtidos por entrevistas individuais, submetidos à análise lexicográfica por meio da Classificação Hierárquica Descendente utilizando o software IRaMuTeQ®, e discutidos com o referencial teórico-analítico da Práxis Freiriana. Resultados Emergiram seis classes: 1. Vivências, experiências e práticas de Educação em Saúde; 2. O avançar da idade como fator para ocorrência das quedas; 3. Práticas preventivas de quedas; 4. As quedas e suas consequências; 5. Importância das práticas preventivas; e 6. Fatores de risco ambientais e comportamentais no domicílio de idosos. Conclusão Os saberes e práticas foram apreendidos a partir de vivências, experiências prévias e práticas educativas na Atenção Primária à Saúde, concretizados na práxis e mediado pela realidade concreta e diálogo emancipador.

[Comparison of the Effects of Education Only and Exercise Training Combined with Education on Fall Prevention in Adults Aged 70 Years or Older Residing in Elderly Residential Facilities]

PURPOSE

To compare the effects of education only and exercise training combined with education on fall knowledge, fall efficacy, physical activity, and physical function in adults aged 70 years or older residing in elderly residential facilities.

METHODS

A three-group pre- and post-test design was utilized: education only (EO; n = 23), education and TheraBand (ET; n = 22), and education and walking (EW; n = 22). Fall education was provided for all three groups. In addition, TheraBand exercise training was provided for the ET and a walking exercise for the EW. Data were collected from November 1st, 2017 to February 15th, 2019 and analyzed with χ² test, paired t-test, and one-way ANOVA using IBM SPSS/WIN ver. 22.0.

RESULTS

Compared with the EO, the ET and the EW were more effective in terms of fall efficacy, physical activity, and lower extremity muscle strength. The EW showed higher improvement in walking abilities than the EO and the ET.

CONCLUSION

Exercise training combined with education is more effective in preventing falls among community-dwelling adults aged 70 years or older. When considering fall prevention programs for older adults, both TheraBand and walking exercise training combined with education can be chosen based on the participant's physical status. Aggressive strategies to improve daily walking are required to maintain walking abilities among community-dwelling adults aged 70 years or older.

Chinese Stroke Association guidelines for clinical management of cerebrovascular disorders: executive summary and 2019 update of clinical management of stroke rehabilitation

Stroke is the third leading cause of long-term disability. Effective stroke rehabilitation should be provided to patients with a moderate or severe stroke so as to achieve functional recovery. Also, stroke rehabilitation is moving towards more intense therapy models that incorporate technologies such as robotics and computer games. Evidence-based guidelines are useful for promoting the best possible clinical practices. This guideline summarises the modes of stroke rehabilitation in China—three-stage rehabilitation network, rehabilitation of stroke dysfunction, training for activities of daily living, stroke complications and rehabilitation care. The aim of this guideline was to provide a synopsis of best clinical practices in the stroke rehabilitation of adult patients in China.