Authors (including presenting author) :
Leung KKY, Chan BTW, Luy ATK, Au Yeung SKF, Au JYT, Wong JTM, Wong VYH, Fong BSF, Law EYL, Tsui DE, Chan DYC, Leung KKL
Affiliation :
Physiotherapy Department, Kowloon Hospital
Introduction :
Fall is a frequent hospital admission cause in geriatric population. It results in disability and mortality to older adults and great financial burden to healthcare system. Fall prevention education is essential in raising knowledge of fall risks for caregivers, and is effective in reducing fall recurrence. Educational videos for caregivers training is suggested to improve knowledge and practical skills, and effectively equipped caregivers with essential knowledge and skills of fall prevention in home setting.
Objectives :
The project aims to improve effectiveness of caregiver education by raising awareness and perception of fall risks, providing concrete and practical advice on fall prevention, with facilitation of fall educational video.
Methodology :
The target subject group is caregivers of patients staying in extended rehabilitation geriatric medical ward with fall risks and plan of discharging home. A fall educational video is prescribed to caregivers during caregiver education. Content of video includes information of fall risks, home exercises and fall prevention advice. Education of transfer techniques, and prescription of personalized home exercise program and appropriate walking aids is conducted after video prescription as conventional method. A satisfaction survey was conducted for each caregiver after caregiver education for evaluating the effectiveness of the training.
Result & Outcome :
Level of satisfaction and comments on the video, level of fall prevention awareness and knowledge enhancement, and confidence in fall prevention were evaluated. 21 caregivers completed caregiver education with feedback returned. Over 95% of caregivers are satisfied or extremely satisfied with the video. 86% agreed the amount of information is adequate to resolve inquires of caregivers. 86% agreed the video increased awareness and perception of fall risks. They agreed practical advice prescription helps them effectively apply fall prevention measures safely. Higher confidence level is reported in caring geriatric patients in fall prevention. Over 80% has been motivated to explore more about fall prevention afterwards. Over 86% agreed the video is effective in improving elderly’s safety in home environment.
To conclude, the fall educational video provides an effective standardized material of arising the perception and awareness towards fall prevention while conventional face-to-face skills transfer session can help knowledge consolidation and provides tailor-made advice to enhance caregiver confidence in taking care of the patients’ home.
