Developing a Health Promotion Model to Prevent the Risk of Falls among Community-Dwelling Older Adults in Kaset Wisai District, Roi Et Province

Abstract

This study aimed to examine the situation, develop, and evaluate the implementation of a health promotion model to prevent the risk of falls among community-dwelling older adults in Kaset Wisai District, Roi Et Province. The research employed a participatory action research (PAR) design. The study participants included 1,435 older adults. Data collection was conducted from April 2023 to September 2024 using questionnaires and focus group discussions. The research process consisted of four steps: (1) examining the problem and community context; (2) collaboratively developing the intervention model with relevant stakeholders; (3) implementing the model in the community; and (4) reflecting on and evaluating the outcomes. Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and paired t-tests at a significance level of .05, while qualitative data were analyzed using content analysis.

The results revealed that most participants were female (57.1%), with a mean age of 69.93 ± 6.86 years. The majority were married (62.4%), engaged in agriculture (33.3%), and had completed primary education (74.3%). Most lived with others (80.4%) and had caregivers when ill (97.9%). The developed model consisted of four main activities: 1) health screening and planning for older adults, 2) exercise and health education activities, 3) home environment modification, and 4) follow-up and evaluation by volunteer teams. After implementing the model for three months, the majority of older adults had a normal level of fall risk (86.2%), with an average score of 1.62 ± 1.72. Physical performance, assessed by the Timed Up and Go Test, improved, with time decreasing from 18.48 to 11.92 ± 4.20 seconds, and overall health behavior scores increased to a mean of 14.82 ± 2.13 points.

The developed health promotion model has the potential to reduce the risk of falls, enhance balance and mobility, and promote health behaviors among community-dwelling older adults. Moreover, the model can be further applied or scaled up in community-based older-adult health promotion programs in other areas with similar contexts, which may help prevent injuries and reduce the burden of falls among older adults.