title: Views and experiences of Malaysian older persons about falls and their prevention-A qualitative study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Few studies on falls interventions have been conducted in South East Asia. Despite its population ageing rapidly, the acceptability of interventions among the older population in this region remains variable. This study aims to explore views and experiences regarding falls and their prevention among older persons at high risk of falls.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixteen individuals aged 60 years and over with at least one fall in the preceding 12 months were recruited from our Primary Care clinics. A qualitative study using semi-structured interviews among individuals and focus-groups was conducted. Thematic analyses were conducted on transcriptions of audio-taped interviews using the WeftQDA software. The interviews ceased when data saturation was achieved.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The three themes included older persons' views on falls, help-seeking behaviour and views on falls interventions. Many older persons interviewed did not perceive falls as a serious problem, some reported a stigma surrounding falls, while others felt they had not sustained more serious injuries due to God's grace. Older persons sought traditional medicine and other alternative treatments for pain relief and other fall-related symptoms. Accessibility of healthcare facilities often prevented older persons from receiving physiotherapy or eye tests.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The delivery of complex interventions for a multifactorial condition such as falls in the older persons in our setting is inhibited by various cultural barriers, falls perceptions as well as logistic difficulties. Efforts to establish a multi-disciplinary intervention among our older population will need to include strategies to overcome these issues.
authors.affiliation: Department of Primary Care Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, 50603, Malaysia. an18na03@yahoo.com.|Department of Biomedical Science, Faculty of Science, Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman, Kampar, 31900, Perak, Malaysia. an18na03@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Annaletchumy
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Loganathan
authors.affiliation: Department of Primary Care Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, 50603, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Chirk Jenn
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Ng
authors.affiliation: Dean's Office, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, 50603, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Wah Yun
authors.initials: WY
authors.lastname: Low
mesh_terms: D000058:Accidental Falls / Q000517:prevention & control*; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups / Q000379:methods; D000066505:Help-Seeking Behavior; D006801:Humans; D008296:Malaysia / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012307:Risk Factors; D057545:Social Stigma
keywords: Accidental falls; Aged; Falls interventions; Falls preventions; Older adults; Qualitative study