Assessing Fall Risk, Prevention Knowledge, Behavior and Social Support Among Older Adults: Insights from a Hospital-Based Study in Riyadh

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Falls are a significant public health issue and the second most common cause of injury and death worldwide. The risk is exceptionally high for older adults, and fall-related injuries can significantly affect their well-being and lead to pain, disability, and loss of independence, necessitating urgent redressal of this issue. This study assesses the fall risk among older patients at a referral hospital in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. METHODS: This cross-sectional study included 246 older adults aged 65 years and older from the Internal Medicine Department. Data were gathered through a survey addressing sociodemographic characteristics, fall risk assessment, prevention knowledge, behaviors, and social support. RESULTS: A high fall risk and good knowledge of fall prevention were observed in older adults. A weak-to-moderate positive correlation was found between behavior and fall risk. Correlations were observed among age, fall prevention behavior, educational level, and fall prevention knowledge. CONCLUSIONS: While a weak-to-moderate positive association was found between fall risk and positive behaviors, no statistically significant association was observed between fall risk and fall prevention knowledge or social support. This indicates that factors other than knowledge and social support may play a critical role in influencing fall risk. Behavioral interventions alone may not reduce fall incidence sufficiently unless other underlying factors are addressed.