Social representation of elderly people on falls: structural analysis and in the light of Neuman

Challenges to therapeutic footwear usage for foot ulcer prevention among type 2 diabetes patients: A qualitative study

OBJECTIVE

Many contemporary designs solely prioritize the therapeutic function of footwear, neglecting other crucial social and environmental considerations. The study aimed to explore challenges to therapeutic footwear usage for foot ulcer prevention.

METHODS

A qualitative critical ethnography design was used in this study. Fourteen participants were recruited at the local hospital in Baise City, China. Data were collected through in-depth interview. A thematic analysis approach was conducted for data analyzing.

RESULTS

This study identified two themes: (1) workplace and physical condition, (2) diverse cultural practice. It was worth noting that slipper as a convenient and cheap wearing choice, decreased the usage of therapeutic footwear. The emerging activity of modern square dancing resulted in more requirements for its design. And the symbolic meaning of hard working in barefoot was also challengeable to therapeutic footwear utilization to some extent.

CONCLUSIONS

Therapeutic footwear intervention design should not only focus on the therapeutic functionality, but also consider about individuals' demands towards working environment and physical status, and particular insights regarding culture and social background. We expected these findings could be evidence for improving therapeutic footwear usage in the future.

Architectural accessibility and perception of falls of elderly people in the peridomicile: mixed method

OBJECTIVE

To describe contents, structure and origin of social representations about falls by elderly people, the peridomiciliary structural conditions that predispose to falls, and to relate the implications of these empirical evidence on the routine of the elderly in the architectural context.

METHOD

Convergent mixed method by triangulation. Qualitative approaches(structural, n=195 and procedural, n=40of the Theory of Social Representations) and quantitative (descriptive sectional, n=183) were used. Elderly people enrolled in primary care were interviewed at home in 2018. Analysis techniques: categorical-thematic, prototypical, statistical, and deductive according to Leininger.

RESULTS

Categories of analysis: 1) Peridomicile: fall scenario and 2) Aging and vulnerability: risk of falls in peridomicile. The following environmental characteristics were precursors to falls: uneven floors, holes, unevenness and objects in the pathway. Feelings and behaviors allocated in the possible central core are associated, justifying falls, and determining their causes.

CONCLUSION

There was an association between the peridomiciliary architectural environment and the predictive characteristics of the risk of falls.

Home fall of elderly people: implications of stressors and representations in the COVID-19 context

OBJECTIVES

To describe personal conditions and home structure that predisposes the elderly to the risk of falling, in the perspective of Neuman's stressors; to describe the content, structure and origin of social representations about falling at home by elderly people; and conjecture the implications of this empirical evidence on the daily lives of the elderly in the context of the pandemic caused by COVID-19.

METHOD

Mixed method with concomitant triangulation (January-July/2017), qualitative design (structural and procedural approaches to the Social Representations Theory) and quantitative (sectional) approaching elderly people ≥65 years.

RESULTS

Environmental factors were identified for falling at home, fear of activities of daily living and loss of visual acuity. Feelings and behaviors mentioned in the possible central nucleus justified the modulation of behaviors. Analysis categories: 1) Representation of the (in)adaptability of the home environment; 2) Representation and overcoming limitations arising from weaknesses.

CONCLUSION

It was possible to produce conjectures based on empirical evidence in the current situation in the pandemic's dynamics.

Risk Behavior for Falls in the Elderly: Experiences of Community Health Workers

Objective: To identify the risk behaviors of the elderly at home, described by community health workers, and related factors. Materials and methods: Qualitative research, in the dialectical perspective, carried out through a focus group with community health workers from a family health strategy unit in a municipality of the State of São Paulo, Brazil. Thematic content analysis was used for the study. Results: The revealed risk behaviors are related to extrinsic factors (architecture, furniture, and equipment), socioeconomic factors (low income, level of education, deficit of social and a family support), and psychological factors (feeling of vulnerability, dependence and not self-acknowledging in a dangerous condition). Conclusions: Falls are the result of a complex interaction between the factors and, the behaviors studied so that adequate identification of these can subsidize individual and collective intervention actions, as well as care management and planning processes aimed at the health of the elderly person.

Characteristics and Circumstances of Falls in the Community-Dwelling Older Adult Population

Objective: The study aimed to describe the characteristics and circumstances of falls in the community-dwelling older adult population. Design: This was a cross-sectional observational and descriptive study involving primary health care centers in Lleida and Castellón de la Plana, Spain. Randomized sampling was used to include 966 individuals aged 75 years or older residing in single-family homes and in possession of a health care card. Data were obtained using the Survey on Fragility in Older People in Lleida (FRALLE survey). Study variables included the occurrence of falls in the past year and fall characteristics such as whether it was a first or successive fall, cause, season, and time of the day the fall occurred, whether the respondent fell flat on the ground, and time the participant remained on the floor. Other variables involved the circumstances of the fall, including the general location of the fall and specific location within the home if applicable, lighting/weather conditions, objects which may have precipitated the fall, floor conditions, and type of footwear. Results: The prevalence of falls was 25.9% with regard to the previous year, with 70% of these participants reporting having fallen previously. Falls most often occurred by accident, during the daytime, and in the winter. Variables that showed statistical significance with regard to age group were: falling flat on the ground (P = .031), fall location (P = .000), presence of an object favoring the fall (P = .039), floor conditions (P = .011), and type of footwear (P = .029). By sex, variables that showed statistical significance included the need for assistance to get up (P = .045) and type of footwear (P = .028). Conclusions: The prevalence of falls was found to be similar in the studied cities. The results show the most common characteristics and circumstances of falls in older adults in the community, making it possible to guide future preventive strategies.