Factors associated with the completion of falls prevention program

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Public Health
• Behavioral Science

Background:

• Falls and fear of falling significantly impact older adults' independence and quality of life.
• Falls prevention programs are effective when completed, necessitating an understanding of completion factors.
• Attrition in these programs can limit their benefits and cost-effectiveness.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify factors associated with the completion of two falls prevention programs: Matter of Balance (MOB) and un Asunto de Equilibrio (ADE).
• To inform strategies for reducing attrition rates and enhancing the benefits and cost-effectiveness of falls prevention programs.

Main Methods:

• A cohort of 3420 older adults in South Florida participated in MOB or ADE workshops (8, 2-hour sessions) between 2008 and 2011.
• Participants completed demographic and pre-post questionnaires.
• Logistic regression analysis was used to identify factors associated with program completion.

Main Results:

• For MOB, female participants were more likely to complete the program (OR = 2.076, P = 0.02).
• For ADE, females (OR = 2.116, P = 0.001) and greater interference of falls in social activities (moderate: OR = 2.269, P = 0.003; extreme: OR = 4.133, P = 0.008) predicted completion.
• Different factors influenced the completion of MOB and ADE programs.

Conclusions:

• Demographic and experiential factors differentially predict completion of falls prevention programs.
• Understanding these factors is crucial for improving program adherence and maximizing public health impact.
• Further research is needed to explore the underlying reasons for differential completion rates among various participant groups.