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Implementation of a fall screening program in a high risk of fracture population.
- Source :
-
Archives of osteoporosis [Arch Osteoporos] 2017 Oct 31; Vol. 12 (1), pp. 96. Date of Electronic Publication: 2017 Oct 31. - Publication Year :
- 2017
-
Abstract
- Fall prevention is an important way to prevent fractures in person with osteoporosis. We developed and implemented a fall screening program in the context of routine osteoporosis care. This program was found to be feasible and showed that a significant proportion of persons with osteoporosis are at risk of falling.<br />Purpose: Falls are the most common cause of fracture in persons with osteoporosis. However, osteoporosis care rarely includes assessment and prevention of falling. We thus sought to assess the feasibility of a fall screening and management program integrated into routine osteoporosis care.<br />Methods: The program was developed and offered to patients with osteoporosis or osteopenia seen at an outpatient clinic between May 2015 and May 2016. Feasibility was measured by physical therapist time required to conduct screening and ease of integrating the screening program into the usual clinic workflow. Self-report responses and mobility testing were conducted to describe the fall and fracture risk profile of osteoporosis patients screened. Effects on fall-related care processes were assessed via chart abstraction of patient participation in fall prevention exercise.<br />Results: Of the 154 clinic patients who presented for a clinic visit, 68% met screening criteria and completed in two thirds of persons. Screening was completed in a third of the time typically allotted for traditional PT evaluations and did not interfere with clinic workflow. Forty percent of those screened reported falling in the last year, and over half had two or more falls in the past year. Over half reported a balance or lower extremity impairment, and over 40% were below norms on one or more performance tests. Most patients who selected a group exercise fall prevention program completed all sessions while only a quarter completed either supervised or independent home-based programs.<br />Conclusions: Implementation of a fall risk screening program in an outpatient osteoporosis clinic appears feasible. A substantial proportion of people with osteoporosis screened positive for being at risk of falling, justifying integration of fall prevention into routine osteoporosis care.
- Subjects :
- Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Delivery of Health Care
Exercise Therapy methods
Feasibility Studies
Female
Geriatric Assessment methods
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Osteoporosis therapy
Program Evaluation
Risk Assessment methods
Washington
Accidental Falls prevention & control
Mass Screening organization & administration
Osteoporotic Fractures prevention & control
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 1862-3514
- Volume :
- 12
- Issue :
- 1
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- Archives of osteoporosis
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 29090360
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1007/s11657-017-0393-5