[Development of a fall prediction model for community-dwelling older adults in South Korea using machine learning: a secondary data analysis].

With the advancement of medical technology and the extension of average life expectancy, the proportion of order populations is rapidly increasing worldwide. In South Korea, the proportion of the population aged 65 and older reached 19.4% in 2024, officially categorizing the country a super-aged society []. This proportion is expected to rise to 25.5% by 2030, 34.4% by 2040, and exceed 44% by 2060 []. This demographic shift has contributed to an increase in chronic degenerative diseases among older adults, thereby intensifying the demand for long-term care services []. Long-term care hospitals (LTCHs), established in 1994 to support the aging population, increased to 1,437 by 2022 following the launch of the Long-Term Care Insurance System in 2008, and provide holistic, integrated care led by skilled nurses []. However, the rapid proliferation of these facilities has raised serious concerns about the quality of care, especially for older adults facing physical and mental challenges. Therefore, improving the long-term care environment has become an urgent priority []. Creating an environment that enables person-centered care (PCC) for older adults residing in LTCHs is essential []. PCC refers to ethical nursing practice that respects the values, autonomy, and choices of individuals, and emphasizes collaborative decision-making between patients and healthcare providers []. This approach not only enhances the quality of care for elderly patients but also reduces feelings of helplessness, improves patient satisfaction, and contributes to better treatment outcomes []. It also provides caregivers with the opportunity to deliver individualized care and strengthen job satisfaction through effective communication with patients, ultimately contributing to improved quality of nursing services []. Thus, PCC is a critical concept in geriatric nursing within LTCHs, requiring in-depth exploration and development of strategies to enhance nurses’ competencies in delivering person-centered care. One of the key elements in practicing PCC is the compassion competence of nurses. Compassion can be understood as an emotional response characterized by sensitivity to another’s suffering and the desire to alleviate that suffering []. It goes beyond mere emotional resonance, requiring an active stance to understand a person’s situation from their perspective. Compassion competence encompasses the knowledge, skills, and attitudes that enable nurses to holistically understand their patients and is considered a critical component of overall nursing competence []. Nurses with high compassion competence are able to detect subtle changes in a patient’s condition, respond promptly to their needs, and communicate effectively with family members and interdisciplinary teams to provide integrated care []. Such competence allows nurses to build therapeutic relationships with patients and tailor care to the individual's circumstances []. Moreover, a deep understanding of care recipients enhances clinical performance in terms of precision and efficiency, which in turn contributes positively to the overall quality of nursing services [,]. Therefore, compassion competence among long-term care hospital nurses is expected to be closely linked to person-centered care, and systematic investigation of this relationship holds significant academic and practical value.