Kansas physician assistants’ attitudes/beliefs and current practices regarding implementation of fall prevention strategies in older adults
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Falls among older adults are a significant economic and social healthcare issue. Evidence-based fall prevention guidelines exist but are not implemented in daily practice. The purpose of this study was to evaluate attitudes/beliefs and current practices of Kansas physician assistants (PAs) regarding fall assessment and prevention strategies in older adults and barriers/facilitators to integrating strategies into daily practice. A 67-item, non-validated survey was mailed to all 760 Kansas PAs in 2009. Findings show that 100% of PAs felt fall prevention was important and 95% thought falls were preventable. Although > 90% felt a professional responsibility to implement fall prevention strategies; 50% or less actually did so routinely. PAs believe fall prevention is important but do not routinely implement strategies due to time, staffing, and feeling ill-prepared.
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Research completed at the Department of Physician Assistant, College of Health Professions
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v.6