Developing and Testing Implementation Strategies to support the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's...

Area of Science:

• Implementation science
• Geriatric rehabilitation
• Public health initiatives

Background:

• Falls are a major public health concern for older adults.
• The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's STEADI initiative aims to reduce falls and related injuries.
• Outpatient physical therapy is a novel setting for implementing falls prevention strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and test implementation strategies for the STEADI initiative in outpatient physical therapy.
• To assess the feasibility, acceptability, and appropriateness of STEADI in this setting.
• To improve falls risk management for older adults receiving physical therapy.

Main Methods:

• A feasibility implementation study was conducted in five outpatient physical therapy clinics.
• Key partners (N=48) participated in pre- and post-implementation surveys and interviews.
• Evidence-based quality improvement panels were used to refine implementation strategies.

Main Results:

• The study successfully developed and tested implementation strategies for STEADI in outpatient physical therapy.
• Key partners identified barriers and facilitators to STEADI implementation.
• Clinic- and provider-level adoption and fidelity to STEADI were primary outcomes.

Conclusions:

• Implementing the STEADI initiative in outpatient physical therapy is feasible.
• Tailored implementation strategies can support the uptake of falls prevention programs.
• This approach has the potential to reduce falls and improve outcomes for older adults.