Elderly persons' attitudes towards footwear--a factor in preventing falls.

Injuries from falls are the main cause of trauma morbidity that leads to mortality among the elderly. One prevention strategy is to wear sturdy shoes. This study was undertaken to determine the attitudes towards and use of sturdy shoes among older adults. A random sample of persons ages 65 years and older was contacted by phone; 652 completed interviews. Sturdy shoes were worn by 26 percent of persons at the time of the call; more than two-thirds reported wearing such shoes at some time. Barriers to use of sturdy shoes included foot problems, difficulty putting them on, expense, style, and lack of knowledge about their importance. There was no difference in shoe use by the respondents' history of previous falls. The results provide information useful in the development of a program to increase the use of sturdy shoes by this population.