Home Environmental Risks and Caregiver Awareness

High Prevalence But Low Awareness of Environmental Risks in Home Care: A Cross-Sectional Study

This cross-sectional study aimed to assess home environmental risks and caregiver awareness among individuals receiving home healthcare services. It also examined factors associated with caregivers' awareness of these risks.

The main questions addressed in this study were:

• How common were environmental risks in home care settings?
• To what extent were caregivers aware of these risks?
• Which factors were associated with caregiver awareness of home environmental risks? Participants receiving home healthcare services and their caregivers were evaluated during routine home visits. Data were collected through face-to-face interviews using a structured questionnaire and a home environmental risk checklist.

This cross-sectional study was conducted to evaluate home environmental risks and caregiver awareness among individuals receiving home healthcare services. Home care settings represent a complex care environment in which patient safety may be compromised by various environmental hazards. Despite the high prevalence of such risks, caregiver awareness and recognition remain limited, which may affect the safety and quality of care delivered in home settings.

The study population consisted of patients who applied to home healthcare services affiliated with a public hospital in Istanbul between January 20 and March 1, 2026, and their caregivers. Participants were evaluated during routine home visits.

Data were collected through face-to-face interviews using a structured questionnaire and a home environmental risk checklist developed based on existing home safety recommendations. The checklist was used to identify potential environmental hazards within the home setting. In addition, caregivers' awareness of these risks and their perceptions regarding the modifiability of risks were assessed.

Home environmental risks were categorized according to their level of modifiability as easy, moderate, or difficult, based on the type of intervention required. Caregiver-related factors, including prior information, caregiving experience, and sociodemographic characteristics, were also recorded.

The study aimed to describe the frequency of home environmental risks, assess the level of caregiver awareness, and examine factors associated with awareness. In addition, perceived barriers to risk mitigation, such as financial constraints and unsuitable housing conditions, were evaluated to better understand the structural challenges affecting home safety.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Caregivers of individuals receiving home healthcare services during the study period
• Caregivers who were present during routine home visits
• Caregivers who agreed to participate and provided informed responses
• Caregivers without communication barriers (e.g., language-related difficulties)

Exclusion Criteria:

• Caregivers in households where an acute medical condition requiring urgent intervention was present at the time of the visit
• Caregivers who declined to participate or were unable to complete the assessment