Effectiveness of self-management program for fall prevention among elderly people with knee pain, Mueang District, Nakhon Pathom Province

Abstract

This quasi-experimental one-group pre-post test design aimed to compare self-management behaviors in fall prevention among elderly people with knee pain. The sample consisted of 30 the elderly knee pain. Purposive sampling was used to select the 30 elderly people with knee pain. The research instruments were 1. the self-management program comprised of 1) goal selection 2) information collection 3) Information processing and evaluation 4) decision making 5) action and 6) self–reaction, 2. self-management behavior questionnaire for fall prevention 3. knee pain severity assessment form 4. body balancing assessment form for elderly people and 5. fall risk assessment form. The quality of the research tool was validated by the three experts with a consistency index between .67-1.00 and a Cronbach's alpha coefficient of .72. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and t-tests.

The results showed that before enrolling the program, the average self-management behavior score was moderate level ( = 1.33, SD = 0.22). The average self-management behavior score was higher after enrolling the program ( = 1.82, SD = 0.86). The two groups were significantly different (p < .001). Before enrolling the program, the samples had mild knee pain ( = 34.33, SD = 5.99), moderate body balance ( = 12.24, SD = 3.18), and were at risk of falls ( = 3.67, SD = 2.65). After participating in the program, the samples did not experience any abnormalities in knee pain ( = 43.06, SD = 3.13), good balance ( = 10.83, SD = 2.37), and were at no risk of falls ( = 1.97, SD = 1.21).