Investigation of the relationship between fear of falling avoidance behavior and methods of coping with stress in elderly people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Purpose: This study was conducted to examine the relationship between fear of falling avoidance behavior and methods of coping with stress in the elderly with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Method: This descriptive and cross-sectional study was conducted between 27 July 2022 and 1 March 2023 with 171 individuals with COPD aged 65 and over who were admitted to the chest diseases service of a State Hospital in Elazig. Research data were collected through face-to-face interviews with the "Patient Description Form, the 'Coping Styles Scale Short Form Scale' (CBC-SF) and the 'Fear of Falling Avoidance Scale in Older Adults' (FFABQ). Findings: According to our study, the mean score of the participants' BÇSÖ-KF was 70.75±9.27 and the FFABQ score was 31.24±12.9. There wasn't statistically significant difference between FFABQ and BÇSÖ-KF (p>0.05). Result and Suggestions: Patients should be supported to reduce the avoidance behaviors of elderly patients with COPD. Individuals with COPD over the age of 65 should be informed and guided to exercise regularly to prevent falls due to muscle regression. It is recommended to conduct experimental studies on how to reduce fall avoidance behaviors in future studies. Keywords: COPD, fear of falling, avoidance, elderly person, coping, stress