Abstract
Background: Mobility is influenced by different factors and several conceptual frameworks have discussed the factors affecting mobility. Using the conical model for the theoretical framework, seven factors were highlighted as factors influencing mobility. Mobility factors highlighted are physical, cognitive, psychological, social, financial, environmental and personal factors.
Aim: To determine the cognitive, physical, psychological and social factors that community older adults perceive as crucial for preserving or improving their mobility.
Method:This was cross-sectional study of 400 community-dwelling older adults recruited in Egor Local Government Area of Benin City using a multistage random sampling technique. The gait speed was assessed using a 10 meters walk test, life space questionnaire was used to assess the life-space mobility and cognitive, physical, psychological and social factors were assessed with the e-delphi questionnaire. Consensus levels for each factor were examined using frequency counts and percentages. The multivariable multinomial logistics regression was used to assess a mobility factor as Critical (≥70%) versus Not Important (≤15%) and critical versus Important. The significance level was set at p<0.05.
Result: None of the 7 cognitive, 24 physical, 14 psychological, or the 6 social factors met the criteria for prioritization which was set at ≥70% for a factor to be "Critical" (scores ≥7) and ≤15% for a factor to be "Not Important". Twenty-three (45.1%) mobility factors of life space assessment score were found to predict a participant rating a factor as “Not important” versus “Critical”.Life Space Assessment scores were a better indicator of participants rating a mobility factor as "Not Important" versus "Critical". Twenty-three (23) out of Fifty-three (51) mobility components (45.1%) fit this description.
Conclusion: Although none of the factors assessed met the criteria for prioritization. Muscle strength, power, endurance and pain were the four physical factor older adults self-reported as critical for their mobility.
