title: Intervention study for changes in home fire safety knowledge in urban older adults.
abstract: Older adults are more likely to experience problems that contribute to an increase in burn-related morbidity and mortality. The purpose of the current study was to determine if the educational home fire safety (HFS) intervention was an effective method of improving HFS knowledge over time in two groups of urban older adults, home bound and community-based. HFS knowledge of 110 urban older adults was assessed at baseline, immediately after watching a HFS DVD (recall), and at 2-week follow-up (retention). The United States Fire Administration Home Safety Checklist which examines HFS practices in the home was also administered. HFS knowledge scores significantly increased over time for both groups (p<0.0001), but no significant differences existed between the two groups over time (p=0.183). In addition, HFS knowledge scores were significantly impacted by the number of chronic illnesses, number of independent activities of daily living, and income. The findings from this study suggest the educational HFS intervention was effective in increasing urban older adults' HFS knowledge over time. Lowering the burns morbidity and mortality in the older adult population is an important public health concern that needs to be addressed through tailored prevention and education strategies.
authors.affiliation: University of Louisville School of Nursing, 555 S. Floyd Street, Louisville, KY 40202, United States; University of Louisville School of Medicine, Abell Administration Building, 323 E. Chestnut Street, Louisville, KY 40202, United States. Electronic address: c0lehn01@louisville.edu.
authors.forename: Carlee
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lehna
authors.affiliation: University of Louisville School of Nursing, 555 S. Floyd Street, Louisville, KY 40202, United States. Electronic address: m0coty02@louisville.edu.
authors.forename: Mary-Beth
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Coty
authors.affiliation: University of Louisville School of Nursing, 555 S. Floyd Street, Louisville, KY 40202, United States. Electronic address: Erin.Fahey@louisville.edu.
authors.forename: Erin
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Fahey
authors.affiliation: Louisville Fire Department, 1135 W. Jefferson Street, Louisville, KY 40203, United States. Electronic address: Joseph.Williams@louisvilleky.gov.
authors.forename: Joe
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.affiliation: Louisville Fire Department, 1135 W. Jefferson Street, Louisville, KY 40203, United States. Electronic address: Drane.Scrivener@louisvilleky.gov.
authors.forename: Drane
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Scrivener
authors.affiliation: Peaceful Families, PLLC, 3013 Bunker Hill Dr., Louisville, KY 40205, United States. Electronic address: gwishnia@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Gracie
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Wishnia
authors.affiliation: University of Louisville School of Medicine, Abell Administration Building, 323 E. Chestnut Street, Louisville, KY 40202, United States. Electronic address: John.Myers@louisville.edu.
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Myers
mesh_terms: D000061:Accidents, Home / Q000517:prevention & control*; D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002056:Burns / Q000517:prevention & control*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D005390:Fires; D006266:Health Education / Q000379:methods*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D018577:Homebound Persons / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007182:Income / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D057187:Independent Living / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D007629:Kentucky; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012449:Safety; D014505:Urban Population
keywords: Educational intervention; Home fire safety; Older adults