Selecting a theoretical framework to guide a research study of older adults' perceptions and experiences of falling in the hospital

• Published in: Applied nursing research Vol. 47; pp. 38 - 40
• Main Authors: Dolan, Hanne, Taylor-Piliae, Ruth
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 01.06.2019
• Subjects: Accidental Falls - prevention & control; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Fear - psychology; Female; Health Belief Model; Humans; Inpatient falls; Male; Models, Theoretical; Nursing; Older adult; Perception; Theoretical framework; Inpatient falls; Health Belief Model; Older adult; Theoretical framework
• ISSN: 0897-1897; 1532-8201
• DOI: 10.1016/j.apnr.2019.04.004

A paucity of research has explored the older adult's experience of falling in the hospital. Understanding the central concepts associated with a fall while hospitalized is essential for further fall prevention research and practice. The purpose of this paper is to describe the process of selecting a theoretical framework to guide a qualitative study exploring the older adult's experience of falling while hospitalized. An analysis of six established illness self-management theories and models from nursing and psychology was conducted using Walker and Avant's framework for theory analysis. The Health Belief Model was selected as the most appropriate theoretical framework, as it entails concepts applicable to the experience of falling and captures the complexity of the phenomenon of inpatient falls, which is important for nursing.