The Effect of a Home Fire Safety Program on Fire Safety Knowledge and Behavior of Community-Dwelling Older Adults and their Family Caregivers

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Assistant Professor, Community Health Nursing, Faculty of Nursing, Damanhur University

2 Assistant Professor, Gerontological Nursing, Faculty of Nursing, Alexandria University

3 Lecturer, Community Health Nursing, Faculty of Nursing, Damanhour University, Egypt.

Abstract

Background: Older adults are at higher risk for fire-related injuries and deaths than younger people
due to their impaired physical and sensory functions. A fire safety programs should be developed for
older adults and their family caregivers to prevent fire-related accidents. Aim of this study is to
evaluate the effect of a home fire safety program on fire safety knowledge and behavior of community-
dwelling older adults and their family caregivers. Design: A quasi-experimental research design was
used (one-group pretest–posttest). Setting: The study was conducted in five community clubs for
community-dwelling older adults in Alexandria namely; El-Saada, El-Hanan, El-Wafaa, El-Hayia Wl-
Amal, and El-Wedad clubs. Subjects Purposive sample was composed of two subjects; older adults
and their family caregivers were selected based on specific criteria. Results: There was a statistically
significant effect of home fire safety program on the level of knowledge of both older adults and their
family (P = 0.001). Also, there were a significant effect of the program on the reported home fire safety
behavior for older adults and their family caregivers (P = 0.0001). Conclusion: There were
improvements in home fire safety knowledge and behavior of the community-dwelling older adults and
their family caregivers after the application of a home fire safety program. Recommendations: Home
fire safety programs should be disseminated to the older adults and their family caregivers in various
settings. Encouraging the involvement of home fire safety programs in the mandatory fire safety
curriculum in the educational system.

Keywords

Egyptian Journal of Health Care
Volume 10, Issue 3
September 2019
Pages 560-579

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