Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 6, 2026
Community-based Adapted Tango Dancing for Individuals with Parkinson's Disease and Older Adults
Published on: December 9, 2014
A randomized controlled trial of a multifactorial falls prevention intervention for older fallers presenting to
Melissa A Russell1, Keith D Hill, Lesley M Day
1Preventive and Public Health Division, National Ageing Research Institute, Parkville, Victoria, Australia. melissar@unimelb.edu.au
Objectives:
To investigate the effect of a referral-based targeted multifactorial falls prevention intervention on the occurrence of recurrent falls and injuries in older people presenting to an emergency department (ED) after a fall and discharged directly home from the ED.
Design:
Randomized controlled trial. Assessors of outcomes were unaware of group allocation.
Setting:
Seven EDs in metropolitan Melbourne, Australia.
Participants:
Inclusion criteria were community dwelling, aged 60 and older, presenting to an ED after a fall, and discharged directly home. Exclusion criteria were unable to follow simple instructions or walk independently.
Intervention:
Targeted referrals to existing community services and health promotion recommendations, based on the falls risk factors found in a baseline assessment.
Measurements:
Primary outcome measures were falls and resultant injuries occurring over the 12-month follow-up period. Falls and injury data were collected using falls calendars supported by medical record reviews.
Results:
Three hundred sixty-one participants were randomized to the standard care group and 351 to the intervention group. No significant difference was found between the two groups over the 12-month follow-up period in number of fallers (relative risk (RR)=1.11, 95% confidence interval (CI)=0.95-1.31] or number of participants sustaining an injury from a fall (RR=1.06, 95% CI=0.86-1.29).
Conclusion:
This study does not support the use of a referral-based targeted multifactorial intervention program to reduce subsequent falls or fall injuries in older people who present to an ED after a fall.
