TY - JOUR
T1 - Factors associated with fear of falling and fall-related injuries among people who use wheelchairs and motorized mobility scooters
T2 - a cross-sectional study
AU - Moein, Sahel
AU - Peterson, Elizabeth W.
AU - Rice, Laura A.
N1 - to support the salaries of the study authors was provided by the Department of Kinesiology and Community at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and the Department of Occupational Therapy at the University of Illinois at Chicago. The authors extend their appreciation to the study participants for their contributions to the study.
PY - 2025
Y1 - 2025
N2 - Purpose: To identify the factors associated with the fear of falling (FOF) and fall-related injuries (FRI) among full-time wheelchair and motorized mobility scooter (WC/S) users with various health conditions. Methods: This cross-sectional study included participants (≥18 years old) who used WC/S for at least one year for ≥ 75% of mobility and had a history of ≥ 1 fall in the past three years. Logistic regression models identified factors associated with FOF (yes/no) and FRI (yes/no) during the past year. Data on demographics, prior falls, mental health, environmental accessibility, and WC/S usage were used as independent variables. Results: Among 156 participants, 96% reported at least one fall within the past year, among whom 94.6% reported FOF, and 74% reported FRI within the same period. FOF was associated with fall incidence in the past year (OR = 17.75, p = 0.001). FRI was associated with higher levels of anxiety (OR = 1.15, p = 0.003) and fewer hours of WC/S use per week (OR = 0.98, p = 0.012). Conclusion: This study highlights the high prevalence of FOF and FRI among WC/S users who had falls. The findings emphasized the relation between prior fall experiences and FOF and underscored the significance of addressing anxiety symptoms and WC/S usage in relation to FRI.
AB - Purpose: To identify the factors associated with the fear of falling (FOF) and fall-related injuries (FRI) among full-time wheelchair and motorized mobility scooter (WC/S) users with various health conditions. Methods: This cross-sectional study included participants (≥18 years old) who used WC/S for at least one year for ≥ 75% of mobility and had a history of ≥ 1 fall in the past three years. Logistic regression models identified factors associated with FOF (yes/no) and FRI (yes/no) during the past year. Data on demographics, prior falls, mental health, environmental accessibility, and WC/S usage were used as independent variables. Results: Among 156 participants, 96% reported at least one fall within the past year, among whom 94.6% reported FOF, and 74% reported FRI within the same period. FOF was associated with fall incidence in the past year (OR = 17.75, p = 0.001). FRI was associated with higher levels of anxiety (OR = 1.15, p = 0.003) and fewer hours of WC/S use per week (OR = 0.98, p = 0.012). Conclusion: This study highlights the high prevalence of FOF and FRI among WC/S users who had falls. The findings emphasized the relation between prior fall experiences and FOF and underscored the significance of addressing anxiety symptoms and WC/S usage in relation to FRI.
KW - Accidental falls
KW - fear of falling
KW - rehabilitation
KW - wheelchair
KW - wounds and injuries
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U2 - 10.1080/09638288.2024.2365984
DO - 10.1080/09638288.2024.2365984
M3 - Article
C2 - 38910322
AN - SCOPUS:86000389121
SN - 0963-8288
VL - 47
SP - 1185
EP - 1193
JO - Disability and Rehabilitation
JF - Disability and Rehabilitation
IS - 5
ER -