A phenomenological study on the current state and needs of community elderly individuals in preventing falls

Objective: To investigate the current status and needs of community elderly individuals regarding fall prevention self-management, thereby providing a basis for interventions aimed at preventing falls. Methods: Using phenomenological research methods, convenience sampling was employed. The sample size was determined based on saturation from interviews. Eighteen elderly individuals from five administrative regions in Changsha City were selected for semi-structured interviews. The interview data were analyzed using the Clozza seven-step analysis method, followed by topic identification and refinement. Results: Three main themes were identified: the current state of fall prevention self-management among community elderly individuals (the autonomy and limitations of fall prevention awareness, the one-sided perception of the dangers of falls, the biased assessment of fall risks, etc.).