Effects of a complex intervention on fall risk in the general practitioner setting: a cluster randomized controlled...

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Preventive Medicine
• Exercise Science

Background:

• Falls are a significant threat to the health and independence of older adults.
• Functionally declined older persons at risk of falls often remain independent in the community.
• General practitioners (GPs) are well-positioned to identify and intervene with at-risk older populations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the feasibility of identifying and recruiting older adults at risk of falls through general practice.
• To evaluate the effectiveness of a 16-week complex exercise intervention in reducing physiological and psychological fall risk factors.
• To measure adherence to the exercise program in community-dwelling older persons.

Main Methods:

• A 16-week complex exercise intervention including balance, gait, and strength training was implemented.
• Physical and psychological fall risk assessments were conducted pre- and post-intervention.
• A three-level linear mixed effects model was used to analyze data, accounting for nested study design.

Main Results:

• The intervention group showed a statistically significant improvement in the Timed-Up-and-Go-test (TUG) compared to the control group.
• Improvements in balance and a reduction in fear of falling (measured by FES-I) were observed in the intervention group.
• High adherence rates (76.6%) were achieved, with participants attending over 75% of supervised sessions.

Conclusions:

• A GP-based strategy to deliver a complex exercise intervention for fall risk reduction in older adults is feasible and effective.
• The intervention successfully improved physical function and psychological well-being, reducing fall risks in functionally declined community-dwelling older persons.
• This approach offers a viable model for preventive healthcare in aging populations.