Accidental Falls/Prevention and Control
Conditions
Keywords
fall, prevention
Brief summary
The purpose of this study is to assess effects of a home exercise program, supervised by assistant nurses with the aim of preventing falls. Community living persons 65 years of age or older having a risk of falling were invited to participate. Participants were randomized to either training or control. The training program was individually designed by a physiotherapist and the 5-month program performance was supervised in the partcipants home by eight home visits from an assistant nurse. All participants received a visit from an occupational therapist who assessed the home and, if necessary, gave advice.
Detailed description
Falls among elderly are a major public health problem, but preventive interventions containing physical exercise and home improvement are available. In this study the crucial question was to test whether unlicensed staff, assistant nurses, could be used for preventive work. Estimation of study power gave that 170 participants in each group would be needed to detect a difference in days with falls, the main outcome measure.
Interventions
OTHERComplete intervention
The basic intervention, an occupational therapist assessed the home environment and gave advice, if necessary. Then participants were assessed by a physiotherapist concerning health and function pre and post intervention. The intervention consisted of an individually designed home exercise program aiming at improving balance, muscle strength and walking ability. The program, which was made by the physiotherapist, should be performed three times a week. A minimum of 30 minutes of walking per week was recommended, encouring further walking on an individual basis. An assistant nurse made eight home visits to supervise, help and encourage performance of activities.
OTHERBasic intervention
The basic interventions was an occupational therapist assessed the home environment and gave advice, if necessary. Then participants were assessed by a physiotherapist concerning health and function pre and post intervention.
Sponsors
Örebro County Council
Örebro University, Sweden
Gunilla Fahlstrom
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
SUPPORTIVE_CARE
Masking
NONE
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
65 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
* community living persons at least 65 years old * independent walking ability with or without walking aid * experienced at least one fall during the last 12 months * ability to communicate and cooperate with study staff
Exclusion criteria
* ongoing physiotherapy treatment * ongoing participation in exercise/acitivity containing balance and strength enhancing components * a dementia diagnose * mental disorder that affects possibility to communicate and cooperate * other medical reason making participation inte the study inappropriate.
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Number of days with fall | 12 months | Self reported calendar data |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Exercise | 12 months | Self reported calendar data |
Other
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Hospital visits | 12 months | Hospital register data |
| Fractures or other harms | 12 months | Hospital register data |
| Strength | Pre and post intervention, 5 months | Chair stand test |
| Walking | 12 months | Minutes of walking per day, self reported calendar data. |
| Walking 3 metres test | Pre and post intervention, 5 months | — |
| Health related quality of life | Pre and post intervention, 5 months | Self reported interview data, SF-36 |
| Activities of daily living | Pre and post intervention, 5 months | ADL |
| Balance | Pre and post intervention, 5 months | Falls efficacy scale (FES) |
| Hospital days | 12 months | Hospital register data |
Countries
Sweden
Outcome results
None listed