Modifying the environment: a community-based injury-reduction program for elderly residents. 1996

B Plautz, and D E Beck, and C Selmar, and M Radetsky
School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, USA.

The Department of Public Health, City and County of San Francisco, established the Community and Home Injury Prevention Program for Seniors (CHIPPS) to reduce the rate of unintentional injuries among elderly residents. Through a collaboration between the CHIPPS program, the University of California at Berkeley School of Public Health and the University of California at San Francisco School of Medicine, we tested the hypothesis that providing minor home safety modifications would reduce rates of falls, scalds, and burns. A one-group, pretest-posttest design was used to compare self-reported falls, scalds, and burns for six-month periods before and after the intervention. The intervention used 10 person-hours of unskilled labor and $93 worth of materials on average and included home safety assessments and modifications such as removing clutter; installing hand rails, grab bars, nonskid strips; and securing rugs and electrical cords. Reported falls were reduced by 60% after the intervention, from 0.81 to 0.33 falls per person year (p < .01). Scalds were reduced from 9 to 0 (P < .01) and burns from 7 to 0 (P < .02) during the six-month periods before and after the intervention. Some of the apparent effect may be due to differential reporting. This community-based program to reduce hazards in the home environments of senior citizens was feasible, well accepted, and probably effective in preventing falls, burns, and scalds. Medical Subject Headings (MeSH): accidental falls/prevention and control, aged, safety.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008297 Male Males
D008875 Middle Aged An adult aged 45 - 64 years. Middle Age
D003153 Community Health Services Diagnostic, therapeutic and preventive health services provided for individuals in the community. Community Health Care,Community Healthcare,Health Services, Community,Services, Community Health,Community Health Service,Health Care, Community,Health Service, Community,Healthcare, Community,Service, Community Health
D005260 Female Females
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000056 Accident Prevention Efforts and designs to reduce the incidence of unexpected undesirable events in various environments and situations. Prevention, Accident,Accident Preventions,Preventions, Accident
D000061 Accidents, Home ACCIDENTS which occur within the home. Home Accidents,Accident, Home,Home Accident
D000368 Aged A person 65 years of age or older. For a person older than 79 years, AGED, 80 AND OVER is available. Elderly
D000369 Aged, 80 and over Persons 80 years of age and older. Oldest Old

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