Intervention on Reducing Risk of Falls Among Community Dwelling Older Adults in Selangor
Condition: Fall
Study type: Interventional

Summary: 
      Falls is a major concern in geriatrics due to its high prevalence and various adverse health
      complications among elderly population. Risk of falls can be reduced by improving nutritional
      status and increase the level of physical activity. Besides, knowledge regarding risk of
      falls, nutrition and exercise are important in reducing the risks of falls. Therefore, this
      study aims to develop, implement and evaluate the effectiveness of a nutritional education
      and exercise intervention among community dwelling older adults in Selangor.
    

Detailed description: 
      General Objective: To develop, implement and evaluate the effectiveness of nutrition
      education and exercise intervention on risk of fall among older person in Selangor.

      Specific Objectives:

        -  To determine the risk of falls among the older adults.

        -  To determine the dietary intake, anthropometric parameters (body mass index, mid upper
           arm circumference, calf circumference, body fat percentage and skeletal muscle mass),
           nutritional status, level of physical activity, functional status, perceived quality of
           life, risk of sarcopenia, level of knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP) towards falls'
           risk reduction, nutrition and exercise among the older adults.

        -  To identify the factors determining risk of falls among older adults.

        -  To evaluate the implementation process of the nutrition education and exercise
           intervention program (attendance and feedback of the program).

        -  To determine the mean differences in risk of falls, dietary intake, anthropometric
           parameters, nutritional status, physical activity, functional status, perceived quality
           of life, risk of sarcopenia and knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP) towards falls'
           risks reduction, nutrition and exercise between intervention and control groups before
           and after intervention.

      The proposed study location is in Selangor. This is a randomized wait-list controlled trial
      for 3 months (12 weeks) among community dwelling older adults in Selangor. A two-stage
      sampling design will be applied. Firstly, a random sampling will be applied to select two
      districts from Selangor. This is followed by a purposive sampling to recruit eligible
      subjects according to inclusion criteria.

      Subjects will be recruited from free living older adults residing in Selangor through various
      community settings including including affiliations of National Council of Senior Citizens
      Organisations Malaysia (NACSCOM), University of Third Age (U3A) and Alzheimer's Disease
      Foundation Malaysia (ADFM).

      Subjects will be allocated randomly into 2 groups:

      Group 1: Intervention group (nutrition education + exercise intervention) Group 2: Control
      group (no intervention)

      which total of 100 eligible subjects will be recruited, with 50 subjects are needed in
      respective groups.

      This study will use a set of questionnaires to obtain information on personal information,
      anthropometry data, nutritional status, level of physical activity, functional status, sleep
      quality, quality of life, risk of falls, risk of sarcopenia and KAP on falls' risk reduction,
      nutrition and exercise based on appropriate instruments. Assessments will be performed at
      baseline (week 0), mid-way (week 6) and post-intervention (after week 12).
    

Intervention name(s): Nutritional and Exercise
Intervention type(s): Behavioral
Intervention description(s): Provide Nutritional Education Program and Falls Module Exercise (FME) to the intervention group
Allocation: Non-Randomized
Intervention model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: None (Open Label)
Primary purpose: Prevention
Keywords: risk of falls; nutrition; exercise; TUG; intervention; community dwelling older adults