title: The association between nursing diagnoses and the occurrence of falls observed among elderly individuals assisted in an outpatient facility.
abstract: This is an exploratory descriptive study with a quantitative approach, in which variables associated to the occurrence of falls observed in elderly assisted in an outpatient clinic are delineated from the nursing diagnoses. Data from the files of 490 elderly with age between 60 and 98 years old were investigated. Univariate and bivariate statistical analyses were performed (p <0,05). The dependent variable, occurrence of falls, was prevalent in 30% of the cases and occurred with more frequency among females. A positive and independent association with the following diagnoses of Nursing was found: loss of balance (p <0,001), high blood pressure (p <0,001), weakness (p <0,025) and urinary incontinence (p <0,025). No association was observed for: altered vision, altered audition, joints pain, altered march and postural hypotension. The study shows the importance of working issues related to the variables that presented positive association with the occurrence of falls in the nursing practice.
authors.affiliation: University of Rio de Janeiro. marcia_uerj@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Marcia Duarte
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Moreira
authors.forename: Andréa Rodrigues
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Costa
authors.forename: Letícia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Rodrigues Felipe
authors.forename: Célia Pereira
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Caldas
mesh_terms: D000058:Accidental Falls / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000368:Aged; D000554:Ambulatory Care Facilities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004358:Drug Therapy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D064420:Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007049:Iatrogenic Disease; D008297:Male; D009733:Nursing Diagnosis