Preventing falls among older fallers: study protocol for a two-phase pilot study of the multicomponent LIVE LiFE...

Area of Science:

• Gerontology and Public Health
• Preventive Medicine
• Clinical Trial Design

Background:

• Falls are a major health concern for older adults, often resulting from intrinsic (e.g., weakness, poor balance) and extrinsic (e.g., home hazards) factors.
• Existing fall prevention programs frequently overlook extrinsic risk factors, necessitating a more comprehensive approach.
• The Lifestyle Intervention Functional Exercise (LiFE) program has shown success, but requires adaptation and expansion to address a broader range of fall risks.

Purpose of the Study:

• To adapt and expand the evidence-based LiFE program into a multicomponent intervention (LIVE LiFE) targeting both intrinsic and extrinsic fall risks in community-dwelling older adults.
• To evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of the novel LIVE LiFE program.
• To estimate the potential impact of the LIVE LiFE program on various outcome measures, informing future efficacy trials.

Main Methods:

• A two-phase study involving an open-label pilot followed by a two-group, single-blinded randomized pilot trial.
• Participants (aged 70+ with a history of falls) were randomized (2:1) to the LIVE LiFE program (n=25) or a control group (n=12).
• Outcomes including fall risk, balance, fall incidence, near falls, falls efficacy, fear of falling, home hazards, and medication review were assessed at 16 and 32 weeks.

Main Results:

• Preliminary data from the open-label pilot (n=3) informed program adjustments, emphasizing participant-centered goals.
• Feasibility and acceptability of the adapted multicomponent program are being assessed.
• The study is designed to estimate the program's impact on multiple fall-related outcomes to guide future efficacy trials.

Conclusions:

• The LIVE LiFE program represents an adaptation and expansion of the successful LiFE program, integrating intrinsic and extrinsic fall risk factor management.
• The study is designed to provide crucial data on the feasibility and potential impact of this multicomponent intervention.
• Findings will support the development of a full-scale efficacy trial for the LIVE LiFE program, aiming to reduce fall risk in older adults.