title: Involvement of Family Members and Professionals in Older Women's Post-Fall Decision Making.
abstract: This exploratory, descriptive study examined involvement of family members and professionals in older women's post-fall decision making. We conducted semistructured interviews with 17 older women who had recently fallen and 11 individuals these women identified as being engaged in their post-fall decision-making processes. Qualitative data analysis involved open and axial coding and development of themes. After experiencing a fall, these older women's openness to others' opinions and advice; their assessments of types and credibility of potential information sources; and the communication practices they established with these sources influenced how they accessed, accepted, or rejected information from family members and professionals. Increased awareness of the involvement of others in post-fall decision making could enhance communication with older women who fall. Developing and implementing practical strategies to help family members and professionals initiate and engage in conversations about falls and their consequences could lead to more open decision making and improved post-fall quality of life among older women.
authors.affiliation: a Bexar County Community Health Collaborative.
authors.forename: Caroline D
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-7238-4213
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Bergeron
authors.affiliation: b College of Nursing and Women's and Gender Studies , University of South Carolina.
authors.forename: DeAnne K
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-6137-0000
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Hilfinger Messias
authors.affiliation: c Department of Health Promotion, Education, and Behavior and Statewide Cancer Prevention and Control Program , University of South Carolina.
authors.forename: Daniela B
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Friedman
authors.affiliation: d Department of Health Promotion, Education, and Behavior and Institute for Southern Studies , University of South Carolina.
authors.forename: S Melinda
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Spencer
authors.affiliation: e School of Public Health , Brown University.
authors.forename: Susan C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Miller
mesh_terms: D000058:Accidental Falls; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003142:Communication; D003657:Decision Making; D005190:Family / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006282:Health Personnel; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D036301:Qualitative Research; D011788:Quality of Life