© 1994 The Gerontological Society of America
Preventing Falls Among Community-Dwelling Older Persons: Results From a Randomized Trial1
2 Center for Health Research, Kaiser Permanente, Northwest Region, and Department of Community Health Care Systems, School of Nursing, Oregon Health Sciences University Portland, OR
3 Center for Health Research, Kaiser Permanente, Northwest Region.
4 Center for Health Research, Kaiser Permanente, Northwest Region, and Department of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, School of Medicine, Oregon Health Sciences University.
5 Behavioral and Social Research Branch, National Institute on Aging Bethesda, MD.
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Abstract |
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A randomized trial of a falls prevention program that addressed home safety, exercise, and behavioral risks was conducted with 3,182 independently living HMO members age 65 and older. The intervention decreased the odds of falling by 0.85, but only reduced the average number of falls among those who fell by 7%. The effect was strongest among men age 75 and older. The likelihood of avoiding falls requiring medical treatment was not significantly affected by the intervention. We conclude that the intervention dose was not of sufficient intensity or duration to have a marked protective effect on older persons. Future research should focus on more intensive intervention approaches because serious falls do not appear to be amenable to low-intensity environment/behavioral efforts.
Keywords: Injuries, Health behavior, Exercise, Walking, Home safety, Environment
Received August 24, 1992; Accepted September 13, 1993
1 This research was supported by grant nos. 9995 and 11249 from The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Cooperative Agreement no. 95-C-98578/9-03 from the Health Care Financing Administration, and Cooperative Agreement no. 1-U01-AG07670-01 from the National Institute on Aging. Reesa Laws and Paul Steele provided assistance with the data analysis, and Margaret R. Sucec provided technical editing assistance on the manuscript. Address correspondence to Mark C. Hornbrook, PhD, Center for Health Research, Kaiser Permanente, Northwest Region, 3800 N. Kaiser Center Drive, Portland, OR 97227-1098.
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