Falls and related injuries Injury, Occupational Diseases, Poisoning Falls
Conditions
Interventions
So far, the Chaos Clinic study has been a national trial only. Currently (year 2007), Finland has two Chaos Clinics (Tampere and Lappeenranta) and negotiations to start the clinic action in other plac
Sponsors
The Urho Kaleva Kekkonen (UKK) Institute for Health Promotion Research (Finland)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
All
Inclusion criteria
Inclusion criteria: All home-dwelling persons aged 70 years or more with high-risk for falling and fall-induced injuries and fractures are eligible and belong to the target group. Primarily, such individuals are guided to the Chaos Clinic by the regional health care professionals (physicians, nurses, physical therapists) but relatives and older adults by themselves can also contact the Clinic for assessment of the eligibility. Inclusion criteria Age: 70 years or more, with at least one of the following criteria: a. Problems in mobility and everyday function b. Three or more falls in the last 12 months c. Previous fracture after the age 50 d. Osteoporotic fracture (hip fracture) in a close relative (mother or dad) e. Osteoporosis; clinically proved or strong suspicion f. Low body weight (Body Mass Index [BMI] less than 19) g. Sickness/illness essentially increasing the risk for osteoporosis, falls or fractures
Exclusion criteria
Exclusion criteria: Person's inability to give informed consent (for example, because of dementia or handicap) is a contraindication to be included in the study. Other exclusion criteria are: 1. Disabilities or illnesses preventing physical activity and training 2. Inability to move (bedridden individuals) 3. Terminal illness (predicted lifetime less than 12 months)
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame |
|---|---|
| Falls and fall-related injuries, especially fractures. These will be measured every three months i.e. by phone calls at 3 and 9 months, and on follow-up visits at 6 and 12 months from the beginning. | — |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame |
|---|---|
| 1. Mobility, function, and activities of daily living (Guralnik-test, Timed Up and Go [TUG]-test, and tests for reaction time, balance, and muscle strength) 2. Ability for everyday exercise 3. Fear of falling 4. Occurrence of depression (the 15-item Geriatric Depression Scale [GDS-15]) 5. Cognitive functioning (Mini Mental State Examination [MMSE]-test) 6. It is also possible to assess the so called Fracture Index (an index showing the individual risk for fracture) from the data The secondary outcomes will be measured every six months ie. on follow-up visits at 6 and 12 months from the beginning. | — |
Countries
Finland
Outcome results
None listed