Perception of fall risk in hospitalized patients and associated factors: A cross-sectional study and path analysis

Background and purposes: Evidence regarding patients’ perception of fall risk is scarce. This study aimed to investigate the current situation and the associated factors of patients’ perception of fall risk, explore the mechanisms, and identify the subgroup of patients who may be at greater risk of...

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Main Authors: Ye Luo, Yuanfei Liu, Suxian Tan, Tian Xu, Guanjun Bao
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: SAGE Publishing 2025-04-01
Series:SAGE Open Medicine
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1177/20503121251335811
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author Ye Luo
Yuanfei Liu
Suxian Tan
Tian Xu
Guanjun Bao
author_facet Ye Luo
Yuanfei Liu
Suxian Tan
Tian Xu
Guanjun Bao
author_sort Ye Luo
collection DOAJ
description Background and purposes: Evidence regarding patients’ perception of fall risk is scarce. This study aimed to investigate the current situation and the associated factors of patients’ perception of fall risk, explore the mechanisms, and identify the subgroup of patients who may be at greater risk of having an erroneous perception. Methods: Participants were recruited from three wards of two tertiary general hospitals in China. Three-step multiple linear regression analyses were conducted including the demographic characteristics, health status factors, and fall-related factors as independent variables and Fall Risk Perception Questionnaire scores as dependent variable. The interactions of age, gender, and ward with fall-related factors were explored to test the potential moderating effects. We also examined the mediating role of fear of falling in the relationship of previous falls and age and perception of fall risk. Results: Patients who were in their older age, female, from endocrinology ward, had comorbidities, ambulatory aids, and fear of falling demonstrated a higher perception of fall risk which may or may not align with their actual risk of fall. The impact of previous fall injuries on perception of fall risk was significantly higher in older adults. The effects of fall-related training on patients’ perception of fall risk varied across wards. The fear of falling is a significant mediator between age and perception of fall risk. Conclusion: By understanding the self-perception of fall risk, health professionals would identify the population at higher risk of having an erroneous perception of their fall risk. This study increases health professional’s awareness and informs administrators to design and implement effective intervention and strategies that target patients’ perception of fall risk to promote patient safety.
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spelling doaj-art-0bd3af54ea0f4ee2900b2703f7d5a5452025-08-20T02:19:50ZengSAGE PublishingSAGE Open Medicine2050-31212025-04-011310.1177/20503121251335811Perception of fall risk in hospitalized patients and associated factors: A cross-sectional study and path analysisYe Luo0Yuanfei Liu1Suxian Tan2Tian Xu3Guanjun Bao4Quzhou College of Technology, Zhejiang, ChinaThe Second Affiliated Hospital Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, ChinaQuzhou City People’s Hospital, Zhejiang, ChinaQuzhou College of Technology, Zhejiang, ChinaQuzhou College of Technology, Zhejiang, ChinaBackground and purposes: Evidence regarding patients’ perception of fall risk is scarce. This study aimed to investigate the current situation and the associated factors of patients’ perception of fall risk, explore the mechanisms, and identify the subgroup of patients who may be at greater risk of having an erroneous perception. Methods: Participants were recruited from three wards of two tertiary general hospitals in China. Three-step multiple linear regression analyses were conducted including the demographic characteristics, health status factors, and fall-related factors as independent variables and Fall Risk Perception Questionnaire scores as dependent variable. The interactions of age, gender, and ward with fall-related factors were explored to test the potential moderating effects. We also examined the mediating role of fear of falling in the relationship of previous falls and age and perception of fall risk. Results: Patients who were in their older age, female, from endocrinology ward, had comorbidities, ambulatory aids, and fear of falling demonstrated a higher perception of fall risk which may or may not align with their actual risk of fall. The impact of previous fall injuries on perception of fall risk was significantly higher in older adults. The effects of fall-related training on patients’ perception of fall risk varied across wards. The fear of falling is a significant mediator between age and perception of fall risk. Conclusion: By understanding the self-perception of fall risk, health professionals would identify the population at higher risk of having an erroneous perception of their fall risk. This study increases health professional’s awareness and informs administrators to design and implement effective intervention and strategies that target patients’ perception of fall risk to promote patient safety.https://doi.org/10.1177/20503121251335811
spellingShingle Ye Luo
Yuanfei Liu
Suxian Tan
Tian Xu
Guanjun Bao
Perception of fall risk in hospitalized patients and associated factors: A cross-sectional study and path analysis
SAGE Open Medicine
title Perception of fall risk in hospitalized patients and associated factors: A cross-sectional study and path analysis
title_full Perception of fall risk in hospitalized patients and associated factors: A cross-sectional study and path analysis
title_fullStr Perception of fall risk in hospitalized patients and associated factors: A cross-sectional study and path analysis
title_full_unstemmed Perception of fall risk in hospitalized patients and associated factors: A cross-sectional study and path analysis
title_short Perception of fall risk in hospitalized patients and associated factors: A cross-sectional study and path analysis
title_sort perception of fall risk in hospitalized patients and associated factors a cross sectional study and path analysis
url https://doi.org/10.1177/20503121251335811
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AT tianxu perceptionoffallriskinhospitalizedpatientsandassociatedfactorsacrosssectionalstudyandpathanalysis
AT guanjunbao perceptionoffallriskinhospitalizedpatientsandassociatedfactorsacrosssectionalstudyandpathanalysis