Back to Search
Start Over
The Effectiveness of a Community-Based Program for Reducing the Incidence of Falls in the Elderly: A Randomized Trial.
- Source :
-
Journal of the American Geriatrics Society . Sep2004, Vol. 52 Issue 9, p1487-1494. 8p. 1 Diagram, 4 Charts, 1 Graph. - Publication Year :
- 2004
-
Abstract
- To test whether Stepping On, a multifaceted community-based program using a small-group learning environment, is effective in reducing falls in at-risk people living at home. A randomized trial with subjects followed for 14 months. The interventions were conducted in community venues, with a follow-up home visit. Three hundred ten community residents aged 70 and older who had had a fall in the previous 12 months or were concerned about falling. The Stepping On program aims to improve fall self-efficacy, encourage behavioral change, and reduce falls. Key aspects of the program are improving lower-limb balance and strength, improving home and community environmental and behavioral safety, encouraging regular visual screening, making adaptations to low vision, and encouraging medication review. Two-hour sessions were conducted weekly for 7 weeks, with a follow-up occupational therapy home visit. The primary outcome measure was falls, ascertained using a monthly calendar mailed by each participant. The intervention group experienced a 31% reduction in falls (relative risk (RR)=0.69, 95% confidence interval (CI)=0.50–0.96; P=.025). This was a clinically meaningful result demonstrating that the Stepping On program was effective for community-residing elderly people. Secondary analysis of subgroups showed that it was particularly effective for men (n=80; RR=0.32, 95% CI=0.17–0.59). The results of this study renew attention to the idea that cognitive-behavioral learning in a small-group environment can reduce falls. Stepping On offers a successful fall-prevention option. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 00028614
- Volume :
- 52
- Issue :
- 9
- Database :
- Academic Search Index
- Journal :
- Journal of the American Geriatrics Society
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 14161243
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1532-5415.2004.52411.x