Fatores de risco para queda em idosos: um estudo do ambiente domiciliar.

Abstract

Introduction: Exposed as one of the most traumatic events in this age group, the falls are common and frequent episodes that may cause consequences of varying levels in the elderly. This fact, justified the importance of research by the need to expand knowledge about this event. Considering the lack of published studies on the evaluation of home environment and its interference on the occurrence of falls in the elderly, allowing to extend the knowledge of both academics and health professionals about the research theme. This study aimed to identify the presence of the risk factors for falls in the home environment. Methodology: This is a descriptive exploratory study with a quantitative approach conducted at the homes of old people who are covered by the Family Health Unit José Leite Rolim, in the city of Cajazeiras, Paraíba, Brazil. Data collection occurred at the residence of 51 elderly after the project was approved by the Research Ethics Committee and obtained the signature of the Consent Term and informed the willing participant. For this study we adopted a relevant semi structured questionnaire to sociodemographic conditions, perception of falls and evaluation of the home environment through the use of Environmental Risk of Falls Adapted Scale. The results were organized and tabbed using Microsoft Office Excel 2010 program, and categorized through graphs, tables and simple statistics. Environmental factors were identified by the Environmental Risk of Falls Adapted Scale containing 30 questions, which for each affirmative answer scored "0" and negative scored "1", the final sum was evaluated by the score that determined the environmental risk level. Then the results were compared to the relevant literature. Results: It was verified that 49.0% of participants were aged between 60 and 69 years-old, 68.6% were female and 47.1% fell at some point. Concerning the place where 54.2% reported have fallen it was their homes, and 41.7% said they had not shown consequences after the event. As for evaluation of the environment 53.0% presented medium risk of falls, 47.0% low risk, and no environment presented high risk; the prevalent risk factors showed 98.0% do not have support and 50.9% have throw rugs, 96.0% have indirect light next to the bed and 37.2% do not use light sentinel, 86.2% have no chair to sit on in the bedroom and 21.5% have bed with inadequate height, 90.1% do not have non-slip rugs and 62.7% do not have non-slip floor in the bathroom and kitchen, 19.6% had leaky sinks, besides the lack of bilateral handrail and yellow stripe in 11.7% of the stairs steps. Conclusion: The data provide information for the improvement of the topic between professionals and students of health, it may contribute to the creation and development programs and public policies for the prevention of falls in the home environment.