Purpose
This study aimed to investigate the impact of physical performance and fear of falling on fall risk in patients with End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) undergoing hemodialysis. Methods: This study included 132 patients who regularly received hemodialysis treatment at outpatient clinics in B City from January to April 2022. Data were collected on demographic and clinical characteristics, physical performance (the Short Physical Performance Battery [SPPB]), fear of falling (the Korean Falls Efficacy Scale-International [KFES-I]), and fall risk (the Morse Fall Scale [MFS]). The collected data were analyzed using hierarchical multiple regression in the SPSS/WIN 25.0 program. Results: Thirty-eight patients (28.8%) had experienced accidental falls in the past year, with an average of 1.68 falls per patient. The average SPPB score was 7.89±3.55 (range, 0 to 12), the KFES-I score was 23.18±9.36 (range, 16 to 64), and the MFS score was 45.68±19.52 (range, 0 to 125). Fall risk showed a significant negative correlation with physical function (r=-.72, p<.001) and a significant positive correlation with fear of falling (r=.65, p<.001). Factors affecting the patients' fall risk included the level of serum intact parathyroid hormone (β=.15, p=.004), fear of falling (β=.24, p=.010), number of falls (β=.34, p<.001), and physical performance (β=-.41, p<.001). The regression model was statistically significant (F=22.71, p<.001), with an explanatory power of 64.9%. Conclusion: To prevent accidental falls in ESRD patients undergoing hemodialysis treatment, it is necessary to develop and apply interventions that can enhance physical performance and reduce the fear of falling.

Citations

• Fear of Falling among Elderly Individuals with Various Medical Conditions
  T.K. Konovalchik
  Clinical Psychology and Special Education.2025; 13(4): 76.     CrossRef

Purpose
This study investigated the prevalence and risk factors of undernutrition among older adults living in nonsubsidized Residential Care Homes (RCHs). Methods: Face-to-face interviews and assessments were conducted in a convenience sample of 298 older adults (aged 65 years or older) residing in nonsubsidized RCHs in Hong Kong in January 2015. Subjects who ate by mouth (with or without assistance) and who had no communication barriers were included. We employed a descriptive cross-sectional study design according to the STROBE reporting guidelines. Data were collected on participants' demographics, history of chronic illness, physical function (assessed by the 10-item Simplified Barthel Index with the self-care ability and mobility subscales), cognitive function (assessed by the 10-item Abbreviated Mental Test), and nutritional status (assessed by the 18-item Mini Nutritional Assessment). After identifying the variables associated with undernutrition, hierarchical multivariate logistic regression was used to identify salient predictors. Results: In total, 40.9% of participants had undernutrition, which was associated with a longer length of stay in RCHs and poorer physical and cognitive functions compared to adequate nutrition or being at risk of undernutrition. Hierarchical multivariate logistic regression showed that residents with better cognitive function (adjusted Odds Ratio [OR]=0.88) and self-care ability (adjusted OR=0.75) were at a lower risk of undernutrition. Conclusion: Undernutrition is prevalent among residents in RCHs in Hong Kong and poses a significant risk of cognitive impairment and poor self-care skills. To lessen the likelihood and the consequences of undernutrition, RCHs must give special consideration to residents with these risk factors.

PURPOSE
This study aimed to verify the validity and reliability of the Korean version of the Basic Physical Capability Scale (BPCS-K).
METHODS
The BPCS was translated into Korean using forward and back translations. Data were collected from January 16 to May 10, 2019. The study participants comprised 285 older adults, with 147 recruited from an acute care setting, and 138, who had dementia, were from long-term care facilities. Data analysis included KR-20, intraclass correlation coefficient, independent t-test, Kruskal-Wallis H test, hierarchical multiple regression, and Rasch analysis (item difficulty, infit/outfit, separation index, reliability index, and differential item function analysis), and were conducted using SPSS/WIN 25.0 and R programs. The criterion-related validity was examined using the Barthel Index.
RESULTS
The KR-20 reliability coefficient was .93 and the intraclass correlation coefficient for 2-week test-retest reliability was .97. The BPCS-K scores were significantly different compared to the known groups. Moreover, controlling for age, gender, and cognitive status, the Barthel Index score was significantly associated with the BPCS-K scores. Rasch analysis supported good construct validity.
CONCLUSION
The findings suggest that the 16-item BPCS-K is an appropriate instrument to measure basic physical capability in Korean older adults. The BPCS-K can establish individualized physical activity goals for the elderly in a variety of clinical settings and can also serve to measure changes of physical function in physical activity interventions for older adults.

Citations

• Validity and Reliability of the Korean Version of Assessment of Health Literacy in Breast and Cervical Cancer Screening
  Hye Sook Shin, Eunlim Chi, Hae-Ra Han
  Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing.2021; 51(6): 769.     CrossRef

No abstract available.