Author(s)

Afsoon Hassani Mehraban, Lynette Mackenzie, Julie Byles, Richard Gibson, Cassie Curryer

Discipline of Occupational Therapy, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia;.
Occupational Therapy Department, Rehabilitation Research Center, School of Rehabilitation Sciences, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Research Centre for Gender Health and Ageing, University of Newcastle, Newcastle, Australia.

Purpose: To evaluate the relevance and accuracy of determining and predicting risk factors for falls in older women using the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF). Methods: We tested the accuracy of the ICF against risk of falls amongst 568 community dwelling participants of the Australian Longitudinal Survey on Women’s Health (ALSWH). We linked health-related variables to the ICF using ten linking rules. The logistic regression analysis evaluated the relationship between the variables and the outcome of falls. Self-report surveys measured daily functioning, health service use, medications, housing and social support. Results: Variables aligned with the ICF components of body function, health conditions, environment, activity and participation (ADL/IADL), and general health were significantly associated with falls. Discussion and conclusion: Mapping ALSWH health-related data to ICF components identified significant risk factors for falls are related to health conditions, functional limitations and home hazards. Biopsycho-social approaches guided by the ICF framework are crucial for fall prevention.

 

Accidental Falls; Home Hazards; Activities of Daily Living; Participation; Occupational Therapy

Mehraban, A. , Mackenzie, L. , Byles, J. , Gibson, R. and Curryer, C. (2013) Can the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) be used to understand risk factors for falls in older Australian women?. Health, 5, 39-48. doi: 10.4236/health.2013.512A006.