title: Self-Awareness of Falls Risk Among Elderly Patients: Characterizing Awareness Deficits and Exploring Associated Factors.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To characterize self-awareness in older adults undergoing inpatient rehabilitation and explore factors associated with reduced awareness of falls risk.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective, cross-sectional design.
  
  
  METHODS
  Older adult inpatient rehabilitation setting.
  
  
  METHODS
  Rehabilitation inpatients (N=91; mean age, 77.97±8.04y) and their treating physiotherapist.
  
  
  METHODS
  None.
  
  
  METHODS
  Three aspects of self-awareness (intellectual, emergent, anticipatory) were measured using the Self-Awareness of Falls Risk Measure. Demographic, medical, and cognitive (Mini-Mental State Examination) information were collected. Current ability was measured using the FIM and timed Up and Go test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the patients in the sample, 31% to 63% underestimated falls risk and 3% to 10% overestimated falls risk depending on the aspect of awareness measured. Different aspects of reduced self-awareness were correlated with being a man, higher educational attainment, neurologic history, lower cognitive ability, and lower functional ability. Regression analysis indicated that sex (β=-.33, P=.004), education (β=-.30, P=.006), and neurologic history (β=-.22, P=.038) were independently associated with overall self-awareness.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results suggest that a proportion of older adults undergoing inpatient rehabilitation underestimate personal falls risk. Further research is required to investigate the contributors to and effects of reduced self-awareness of falls risk. Greater understanding of these factors will facilitate the development of strategies to increase awareness of falls risk and increase engagement in falls prevention.
authors: School of Psychological Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
authors: Tijana
authors: T
authors: Mihaljcic
authors: Department of Physiotherapy, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; Allied Health Research Unit, Monash Health, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
authors: Terry P
authors: TP
authors: Haines
authors: School of Psychological Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; Monash-Epworth Rehabilitation Research Centre, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
authors: Jennie L
authors: JL
authors: Ponsford
authors: School of Psychological Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; Allied Health Research Unit, Monash Health, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; Monash-Epworth Rehabilitation Research Centre, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Electronic address: Rene.Stolwyk@monash.edu.
authors: Renerus J
authors: RJ
authors: Stolwyk
mesh_terms: D000058:Accidental Falls / Q000517:prevention & control*; D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001364:Awareness; D003071:Cognition; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007297:Inpatients / Q000523:psychology*; D007360:Intelligence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012047:Rehabilitation Centers; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors
keywords: Accidental falls; Awareness; Rehabilitation