Development of Fall Prevention Model for Elderly through Community Participation in Mueang Nong Khai District, Nong Khai Province

Abstract

This participatory action research aimed to develop and evaluate the results of using a fall prevention model for the elderly with community participation by applying multifactorial fall prevention approach based on the 10P’s principle. The study period was 9 months. The sample consisted of 319 elderly volunteers who participated in the activities, recruited through proportional stratified sampling based on public health service units. The implementation process was divided into three phases: a preparation phase, an implementation phase, and a post-implementation phase. Data were collected both before and after the activities were conducted. Data collection instruments included: a questionnaire on elderly perception, a fall prevention behavior assessment, a fear of falling assessment, a physical performance evaluation, and an activity of daily living (ADL) assessment. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics including frequency, percentage, mean, and standard deviation and inferential statistics using the paired t-test. The results revealed that following the implementation of the multifactorial fall prevention model based on the '10-P' principle delivered through community forums and knowledge transfer by Village Health Volunteers (VHVs) under a supportive atmosphere and enthusiastic teamwork there were statistically significant increases in perception, reductions in the fear of falling, and positive modifications in fall prevention behaviors (p < 0.05). This demonstrates that the model is highly beneficial and effectively enhances protective factors against falls. Therefore, it should be widely disseminated to the elderly.