University of Nebraska at Kearney, Kearney, NE, USA.
Iowa State University, Ames, IA, USA.
BMC Public Health. 2024 Sep 28;24(1):2658. doi: 10.1186/s12889-024-20138-z.
Falls are the leading cause of injury related morbidity and mortality in older adults. Primary and secondary prevention strategies that address modifiable risk factors are critically important to reduce the number of falls and fall related injuries. A number of evidence-based fall prevention programs are available, but few offer potential for broad dissemination and public health impact due to implementation barriers, such as a need for trained program leaders and clinicians.
The study will use a randomized controlled trial design to evaluate incorporating physical therapy exercises (primary prevention strategy) within an existing intervention called Walk with Ease. While Walk with Ease has an established evidence-base related to the management of arthritis pain and symptoms, the present study will determine the potential to also reduce falls and fall risk in community-dwelling older adults. The integrated process and outcome evaluation will determine the relative effectiveness of individually-prescribed exercises (compared to standardized exercises) as well as the potential of 'habit training' resources (relative to generic behavior prompts) to improve compliance with exercises in this population.
The study, conducted through a local clinical-community partnership will advance both the science and practice of community-based fall prevention programming, while also informing implementation strategies needed to promote broader dissemination.
ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT05693025, Registered January 20, 2023, Updated March 1, 2023.
跌倒是导致老年人受伤发病率和死亡率的主要原因。针对可改变风险因素的一级和二级预防策略对于减少跌倒和跌倒相关伤害的数量至关重要。有许多基于证据的跌倒预防计划，但由于实施障碍，如需要经过培训的计划负责人和临床医生，很少有计划具有广泛传播和公共卫生影响的潜力。
该研究将采用随机对照试验设计，评估在现有的名为“轻松行走”的干预措施中纳入物理治疗运动（一级预防策略）。虽然“轻松行走”在关节炎疼痛和症状管理方面有既定的证据基础，但本研究将确定其在减少社区居住的老年人跌倒和跌倒风险方面的潜力。综合的过程和结果评估将确定个性化处方运动（与标准化运动相比）的相对有效性，以及“习惯训练”资源（相对于通用行为提示）在提高该人群对运动的依从性方面的潜力。
这项通过当地临床-社区合作进行的研究将推进基于社区的跌倒预防计划的科学和实践，同时为促进更广泛传播所需的实施策略提供信息。
ClinicalTrials.gov，NCT05693025，2023 年 1 月 20 日注册，2023 年 3 月 1 日更新。
