Implementation of the Programme to Prevent Falls in Older People: a Process Evaluation Protocol

Overview

Journal BMJ Open

Specialty General Medicine

Date 2021 Jul 27

PMID 34312204

Citations 3

Authors

Morag E Taylor

Chris Todd

Sandra ORourke

Lindy M Clemson

Jacqueline Ct Close

Stephen R Lord

Thomas Lung

David J Berlowitz

Jannette Blennerhassett

Jessica Chow

Julia Dayhew

Helen Hawley-Hague

Wendy Hodge

Kirsten Howard

Pamela Johnson

Reena Lasrado

Garth McInerney

Marita Merlene

Lillian Miles

Catherine M Said

Leanne White

Nicola Wilson

Avigdor Zask

Kim Delbaere

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Introduction: One in three people aged 65 years and over fall each year. The health, economic and personal impact of falls will grow substantially in the coming years due to population ageing. Developing and implementing cost-effective strategies to prevent falls and mobility problems among older people is therefore an urgent public health challenge. is a low-cost, unsupervised, home-based balance exercise programme delivered through a computer or tablet. has a simple user-interface that incorporates physical and behavioural elements designed to promote compliance. A large randomised controlled trial in 503 community-dwelling older people has shown that is safe, has high adherence rates and is effective in improving balance and reducing falls. The current project targets a major need for older people and will address the final steps needed to scale this innovative technology for widespread use by older people across Australia and internationally.

Methods And Analysis: This project will endeavour to recruit 300 participants across three sites in Australia and 100 participants in the UK. The aim of the study is to evaluate the implementation of into the community and health service settings in Australia and the UK. The nested process evaluation will use both quantitative and qualitative methods to explore uptake and acceptability of the programme and associated resources. The primary outcome is participant adherence to the programme over 6 months.

Ethics And Dissemination: Ethical approval has been obtained from the South East Sydney Local Health District Human Research Ethics Committee (HREC reference 18/288) in Australia and the North West- Greater Manchester South Research Ethics Committee (IRAS ID: 268954) in the UK. Dissemination will be via publications, conferences, newsletter articles, social media, talks to clinicians and consumers and meetings with health departments/managers.

Trial Registration Number: ACTRN12619001329156.

Citing Articles

Implementation of a digital exercise programme in health services to prevent falls in older people.

Taylor M, Ambrens M, Hawley-Hague H, Todd C, Close J, Lord S Age Ageing. 2024; 53(8).

PMID: 39113467 PMC: 11306314. DOI: 10.1093/ageing/afae173.

Alexa, let's train now! - A systematic review and classification approach to digital and home-based physical training interventions aiming to support healthy cognitive aging.

Herold F, Theobald P, Gronwald T, Kaushal N, Zou L, de Bruin E J Sport Health Sci. 2023; 13(1):30-46.

PMID: 36736727 PMC: 10818117. DOI: 10.1016/j.jshs.2023.01.004.

The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Physical Activity, Function, and Quality of Life.

Said C, Batchelor F, Duque G Clin Geriatr Med. 2022; 38(3):519-531.

PMID: 35868670 PMC: 9023337. DOI: 10.1016/j.cger.2022.04.003.

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