Home Environmental Hazards among Community-Dwelling Elderly Persons in Taiwan

本研究目的為瞭解臺灣社區老人的居家環境危險因子的盛行率及預測之變項。以集束抽樣法抽取北臺灣1,212位65歲以上老人來評估其居家環境。結果發現：60.4％的社區老人居住環境至少有一種環境危害因子，其中浴室是最常見有危害因子的地方；潛在的環境危害因子的顯著預測變項有：居住於城市(odds ratio (OR) = 4.36, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 3.29, 5.76)、自覺健康較差 (OR = 1.86, 95% CI = 1.31, 2.64)、family dysfunction (OR = 1.77, 95% CI = 1.21, 2.59)、害怕跌倒(OR = 1.65, 95% CI = 1.19, 2.2)、年齡較大（? 75 歲, OR = 1.47, 95% CI = 1.11, 1.96）、步態不穩(< 9?OR = 10.76, 95% CI = 4.48, 25.84)和平衡不好(< 10?OR = 3.03, 95% CI = 1.14, 8.09)。大多數老人居住在有危險的居家環境，確認並修正危害的環境因子對老人的安適是重要的。
The purposes of this study were to determine the prevalence and variables that best predict home environmental hazards among the community-dwelling elderly in Taiwan. An assessment was made of the home environments of 1212 people aged 65 years and older, chosen by cluster sampling from registered households in northern Taiwan. Environmental hazards were found in the majority of homes (60.4%) where community-dwelling elderly people lived. The bathroom was the most common site for environmental hazards. Significant predictors of potential home environmental hazards were: living in an urban area (OR = 4.36, 95% confidence interval (CI = 3.29, 5.76), poor awareness of one's health status (OR = 1.86, 95% CI = 1.31, 2.64), family dysfunction (OR = 1.77, 95% CI = 1.21, 2.59), fear of falling (OR=1.65, 95% CI = 1.19, 2.28), being older (? 75 years, OR=1.47, 95% CI = 1.11, 1.96), poor gait (OR = 10.76, 95% CI = 4.48, 25.84) and poor balance (OR = 3.03, 95% CI = 1.14, 8.09). Most elderly persons do not live in a risk-free home environment. The recognition and removal of environmental hazards is imperative to the well-being of the elderly.