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Translating a Fall Prevention Intervention Into Practice: A Randomized Community Trial. Am J Public Health 2015 Jul;105(7):1475-81

Date

01/21/2015

Pubmed ID

25602891

Pubmed Central ID

PMC4463371

DOI

10.2105/AJPH.2014.302315

Scopus ID

2-s2.0-84930848299 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site)   17 Citations

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: We examined whether community translation of an effective evidence-based fall prevention program via standard monetary support can produce a community-wide reduction in fall injuries in older adults and evaluated whether an enhanced version with added technical support and capacity building amplified the fall reduction effect.

METHODS: We completed a randomized controlled community trial among adults aged 65 and older in (1) 10 control communities receiving no special resources or guidance on fall prevention, (2) 5 standard support communities receiving modest funding to implement Stepping On, and (3) 5 enhanced support communities receiving funding and technical support. The primary outcome was hospital inpatient and emergency department discharges for falls, examined with Poisson regression.

RESULTS: Compared with control communities, standard and enhanced support communities showed significantly higher community-wide reductions (9% and 8%, respectively) in fall injuries from baseline (2007-2008) to follow-up (2010-2011). No significant difference was found between enhanced and standard support communities.

CONCLUSIONS: Population-based fall prevention interventions can be effective when implemented in community settings. More research is needed to identify the barriers and facilitators that influence the successful adoption and implementation of fall prevention interventions into broad community practice.

Author List

Guse CE, Peterson DJ, Christiansen AL, Mahoney J, Laud P, Layde PM

Author

Purushottam W. Laud PhD Professor in the Institute for Health and Equity department at Medical College of Wisconsin




MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold

Accidental Falls
Aged
Female
Humans
Male
Residence Characteristics
Wisconsin