Development of Prevention Pamphlets and Checklists for Burn Prevention among Elderly Residents in the Community

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K19714
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 58080:Gerontological nursing and community health nursing-related
• Research Institution: Health Sciences University of Hokkaido (2020-2023); Kyoritsu Women's University (2019)
• Principal Investigator: Wakahama Nanako 北海道医療大学, 看護福祉学部, 講師 (20822761)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 高齢者 / 熱傷 / 地域在住

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The purpose of this study is to develop methods for preventing burns among elderly individuals living at home, using pamphlets and checklists. A questionnaire survey was conducted among 713 elderly individuals aged 65 and above enrolled in senior universities in and around City A to investigate their experiences with burns and methods of prevention, aiming to identify the risks of burns in their daily lives and ways to avoid them. As a result, 316 responses were collected, yielding a response rate of 44.3%. The survey revealed that "flames" were the most commonly recognized heat sources in terms of burn prevention awareness at 37.0%, followed by "hot liquids" at 24.7%, "hot solids" at 20.5%, and "low-temperature heat sources" at 8.2%. Among those who had experienced burns, 75.0% reported incidents in the kitchen, emphasizing the essential need for environmental management during cooking activities, where heat sources are frequently utilized.

Free Research Field

老年看護学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

高齢者は熱傷受傷時に自宅での煩雑な処置や頻回な通院を強いるのは難しい現状があり、一般論を一概に高齢者に用いることができないことからも若年者と比較して入院基準は低くなりやすい。そのため、高齢者の日常生活に潜む熱傷の危険を回避し、熱傷の予防および再発予防を啓発していく必要がある。
今回、高齢者が安全な生活を送る際の熱傷のリスクを察知し、環境の整備に役立てることで、長年住み慣れた地域で自分らしく暮らし続けることができ、高齢者の生活の質の向上へとつながることが期待できる。高齢者の日常生活に潜む熱傷の危険を回避し、熱傷の予防および再発予防を啓発していく一助となる。