‘It's Common Sense’: Older Adults' Personal Strategies to Prevent Falls in the Hospital. A Qualitative Descriptive Study

ABSTRACT Aims The purpose of this study was to describe the strategies older adults use to maintain their balance and prevent themselves from falling in the hospital. Design The Expanded Health Belief Model served as the theoretical framework for this qualitative descriptive study. Methods Audio‐recorded, semi‐structured interviews were conducted with 15 ( N = 15) older adults (female 53.3%), mean age of 77 (SD 9.9) admitted to a rural community hospital in the United States. Each transcript was analysed independently by two researchers using content analysis before reaching consensus. Sample size was guided by thematic saturation. Trustworthiness was ensured by using the criteria outlined by Lincoln and Guba. Results Four main themes emerged: My Balance Problem is My Personal Responsibility, Self‐efficacious Common‐Sense Balance Management Strategies, Hospital Staff as Contributors or Disruptors of My Balance Management, and My Needs for Balance Management Support. The older adults used extensive mental efforts in planning and executing personal strategies to maintain balance and viewed this as their personal responsibility. Their self‐efficacious balance management strategies included observing the environment, assessing furniture and equipment, staying focused, and moving slowly. Assistance from hospital staff members either supported or disrupted the older adults' balance management efforts. The older adults desired to learn more about fall prevention in the hospital. The older adults found physical guidance, demonstration and verbal guidance to be the preferred method of learning. Conclusion Rurally hospitalised older adults employ independent, self‐efficacious balance management strategies. Implications Older adults' personal balance management strategies must be recognised by healthcare workers. Impact Future inpatient fall prevention interventions and policies must focus on exploring hospitalised older adults' optimal and suboptimal balance management behaviours to develop patient‐centred fall prevention interventions to decrease inpatient falls among older adults. Reporting Method The Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Research. Patient or Public Contribution No patient or public contribution.