Cochrane review: Modification of the home environment for the reduction of injuries
Authors: Lyons RA , John A , Brophy S , Jones SJ , Johansen A , Kemp A , Lannon S , Patterson J , Rolfe B , Sander LV , Weightman A 
Published: July 2007

Background

Injury in the home is extremely common, accounting for around a third of all injuries. The majority of injuries of children under five and people aged 75 and over, occur at home. Multifactorial injury prevention interventions have been shown to reduce injuries in the home. However, few studies have focused specifically on the impact of physical adaptations to the home environment and the effectiveness of such interventions needs to be ascertained.

Objectives

To review the evidence for the effect on injuries of modification of the home environment with a primary focus on interventions to reduce physical hazards.

Search strategy

We searched The Cochrane Library, MEDLINE, EMBASE, National Research Register and other specialised databases. We also scanned conference proceedings and reference lists. In addition, we contacted experts and trialists in the field. The searches were not restricted by language or publication status. The searches were last updated in December 2004.

Selection criteria

Randomised controlled trials.

Data collection and analysis

All abstracts were screened by two authors for relevance, outcome and design. Two authors independently assessed methodological quality and extracted data from each eligible study.

Main results

We found 18 published and one unpublished trials. Trials were not sufficiently similar to allow pooling of data by statistical analyses, so this review takes a narrative form. Studies were divided into three groups based on the primary population sample; children (five studies), older people (14 studies) and the general population/mixed age group (no studies). None of the studies focusing on children demonstrated a reduction in injuries that might have been due to environmental adaptation in the home; one study reported a reduction in injuries and in hazards but the two could not be linked. Of the 14 included studies in older people, none demonstrated a reduction in injuries due to hazard reduction, although two demonstrated a reduction in falls that could be due to hazard reduction.

Authors' conclusions

There is insufficient evidence to determine the effects of interventions to modify environmental home hazards. Further interventions to reduce hazards in the home should be evaluated by adequately designed randomised controlled trials measuring injury outcomes. Recruitment of large study samples to measure effect must be a major consideration for future trials.

Plain language summary

More evidence is needed to show whether or not altering the physical home environment by removing potential hazards reduces injuries.

Injuries in the home are very common. Most of the injuries of older people and children under five occur at home. Many people are encouraged to alter their home to try to reduce such injuries. Common alterations include the installation of locks on cupboards and covers on electrical sockets, improvement of lighting in halls and stairways, and the removal of rugs and other falls hazards. The review found that there is insufficient evidence from trials to show that such changes reduce the number of injuries in the home but does not conclude that these interventions are ineffective. Home alterations need to be evaluated by larger and better designed trials.