Accidental Falls
Conditions
Keywords
Accidental Falls, RCT, Age 65 and older, noninstitualized populations
Brief summary
Intensive falls prevention programs have been shown to be effective in reducing falls; however, a number of practical programs, based in community setting have not been successful at reducing rate of falls. The purpose of this study was to test, in a randomized, controlled trial, the efficacy of this intermediate-intensity, individual, multifactorial model to reduce falls. It was hypothesized that more contacts would lead to greater adherence and efficacy in reducing falls.
Interventions
BEHAVIORALUW Falls Prevention Program
The intervention model is of a community-based multifactorial intervention that links participants to existing medical care and service networks. The intervention used an algorithm based on the University of Wisconsin Falls Prevention Clinic, designed to identify predisposing factors for falls; induce risk reduction changes in medical conditions, medications, behavior, physical status, and home environment through recommendations to participants and their physicians; and make sure these changes are long-lasting through follow-up and linkages to other care networks.
Sponsors
Kenosha County Aging and Disability Resource Center
Wisconsin Department of Health and Family Services
University of Wisconsin, Madison
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
65 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
* aged 65 and older * a history of two falls in the previous year or one fall in the previous two years with injury or gait and balance problems * independently living in Kenosha County
Exclusion criteria
* unable to give informed consent with no related caregiver in the home * enrolled in hospice * living in an assisted-living facility * expecting to move away permanently from the area
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame |
|---|---|
| rate of falls | one year |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame |
|---|---|
| all-cause hospitalizations | one year |
| nursing home utilizations: number of days and number of admissions | one year |
| change in ADL function from baseline to one year | one year |
Outcome results
None listed