Fall Prevention Among Community Living Elderly

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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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
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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.

Official Title
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Fall Prevention by Assistant Nurses Among Community Living Elderly With Risk of Falling - a Randomized Controlled Trial

Conditions
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Accidental Falls/Prevention and Control

Intervention / Treatment
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* Other: Complete intervention
* Other: Basic intervention


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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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.

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 65 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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No

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Supportive Care
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: None (Open Label)


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: Training<br>Complete intervention i.e. basic intervention + individual training program. | Other: Complete intervention<br>* 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.<br>|
| Active Comparator: Control<br>Basic intervention. | Other: Basic intervention<br>* 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.<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Number of days with fall | Self reported calendar data | 12 months | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Exercise | Self reported calendar data | 12 months | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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fall, prevention