An impact evaluation of a falls prevention program among older people

The aim of this evaluation study was to assess the impact of peer-presented education sessions on the falls-related attitude, knowledge and behaviour of older people. The evaluation was undertaken on the Bellarine Peninsula in Victoria, Australia, and adopted a non-randomised pre-test post-test design. Baseline, 3 and 12 months follow-up data were collected for 107 individuals who attended the education sessions and 116 controls, matched by age range and sex. The groups were not strictly equivalent at baseline, with the intervention group having a greater knowledge about falls and falls prevention. Analyses which controlled for baseline differences showed that those who attended the education sessions maintained a greater knowledge of factors that can prevent falls at 12 months follow-up. The intervention group also made more changes in and around their home to prevent falls by 3 and 12 months follow-up. Younger participants who reported a previous history of falls and having taken action to prevent falls were most likely to take additional action. The results can help target this type of education program and suggest that their major benefit may lie in providing those who voluntarily attend with the impetus to take the most effective preventative action.