title: Fear of falling and changed functional ability following hip fracture among community-dwelling elderly people: an explanatory sequential mixed method study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aims of the study were to assess self-reported fear of falling (FOF) and functional ability among community-dwelling elderly people 3-6 months post hospital discharge after a hip fracture, to investigate the association between FOF and functional ability, and to explore the lived experience of FOF and disability when recovering from a hip fracture.
  
  
  METHODS
  A sequential explanatory mixed method design was used in a "face-to-face" survey assessing FOF (Falls Efficacy Scale-International, FES-I), avoidance of activities (Modified survey of Activities and Fear of Falling, mSAFFE), functional ability (Functional Recovery Score, FRS), and mobility (New Mobility Score, NMS) followed by in-depth interviews of four participants. Interviews were analyzed using systematic text condensation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among the 33 participants 58% had a high degree of FOF and avoided more activities, needed more assistance in activities of daily living, and were less mobile than participants who had a low degree of FOF (p < 0.0001). According to the informants FOF reduced their functional ability and seriously altered their lives.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  FOF was common and significantly associated with activity avoidance, disability, and affected the lives of elderly recovering from a hip fracture. Some patients were physically incapacitated by FOF.
authors.affiliation: Department of Quality, Copenhagen University Hospital Roskilde, Denmark. annetteum@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Annette
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Jellesmark
authors.forename: Suzanne Forsyth
authors.initials: SF
authors.lastname: Herling
authors.forename: Ingrid
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Egerod
authors.forename: Nina
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Beyer
mesh_terms: D000058:Accidental Falls; D000203:Activities of Daily Living / Q000523:psychology*; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005239:Fear / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006620:Hip Fractures / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity; D036301:Qualitative Research; D011788:Quality of Life; D012307:Risk Factors; D057566:Self Report; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors