UCLA

Falls and associated negative outcomes are of significant concerns. As falls prevention programs and new equipment were designed to prevent falls, the death crude rate of falls increased over years. New interventions and policies did not seem to be effective on fatal falls. The aim of this study was to examine the relationship of death rate and population related-factors, including population density, density of hospitals and medical centers, poverty population and 65 and older population. To control the climate and environmental factors, we focused on the western region of the United States. This thesis first used a linear mixed effect model using population-related factors, then use a latent growth curve model using time as a predictor.