Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices of Falls, Fall-Related Risk Factors and Fall Prevention among Community-Dwelling Older and Middle-Aged Adults in the North of Singapore

Objective

Falls are one of the most common causes of accidental injury among older adults, which can lead to loss of function and mortality. The KAP Study was the first national cross-sectional study conducted in 2017 to understand the knowledge, attitudes and practices of falls, fall-related risk factors and falls prevention among older and middle-aged community-dwelling adults living in the Northern and Central regions in Singapore.

It is important to understand older adults’ perceptions of falls, risk of falls and fall intervention to improve acceptability and adherence of falls interventions and fully engage them in the adoption of behaviours that aid in the reduction of falls risk.

Understanding the knowledge and attitudes of middle-aged adults are also vital from a life course approach to understand differences in perceptions in ageing and middle-aged adults as caregivers from an Asian perspective surrounding falls. Findings from this study were presented at a symposium at the 8th Biennial Australian and New Zealand Falls Prevention Conference in 2018, World Congress of Falls and Postural Stability in 2019 and the Gerontological Society of American Annual Scientific Meeting of 2019. Research analysis has been completed.

Collaborators

1. Duke-NUS CARE

2. TTSH

3. KTPH (Geriatric Medicine)