The impact of implementing a fall prevention educational session for community-dwelling physical therapy patients

The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of a fall prevention educational session on fall risk knowledge, use of fall prevention interventions and the number of falls in community-dwelling older persons attending physical therapy.

This pilot study used a mixed method design consisting of a quantitative pretest-posttest quasi-experimental design followed by a qualitative interview.

An educational intervention was given with pre- and posttest questionnaires to determine the outcome measures of: (a) fall risk knowledge; (b) number of participants implementing fall prevention techniques; and (c) the number of falls sustained for 60 days post the educational sessions. The Health Belief Model served as the theoretical underpinnings for development and presentation of two educational sessions.

Eight of 20 participants completed the fall prevention educational sessions and subsequent evaluation. An increase in fall risk knowledge (p = 0.031) and implementation of fall prevention techniques was noted. One fall was sustained 60 days after therapy discharge.