Steps to Avoid Falls in the Elderly - a TECHnology Enhanced Intervention (SAFE-TECH) study: randomized controlled...

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Public Health
• Rehabilitation Science

Background:

• Falls and fall-related injuries are a significant health concern for older adults in Singapore.
• Existing multi-component falls prevention programs show mixed results for high-risk individuals due to heterogeneous risk factors.
• Tailoring interventions for high-risk older adults is complex but crucial for effective falls prevention.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of SAFE-TECH (Steps to Avoid Falls in the Elderly-a TECHnology enhanced intervention), an enhanced falls prevention program.
• To address the heterogeneity of falls risk factors in older adults through personalized assessments and interventions.
• To reduce falls and fall-related injuries among community-dwelling older adults at high risk.

Main Methods:

• A 12-month randomized controlled trial involving 400 high-risk older adults (intervention vs. control).
• Personalized intervention selection and tailoring based on gait variables from wearable sensors and questionnaire data.
• A 12-week multi-domain, multi-component program including tailored exercises (strength, balance, coordination, flexibility, aerobic endurance) and educational sessions with personalized feedback.

Main Results:

• Data collection includes functional status, physical performance, cognitive status, quality of life, medical history, fall status, healthcare utilization, physical activity, and exercise self-efficacy at baseline, 3, and 12 months.
• Monthly phone calls to monitor fall status, healthcare utilization, physical activity, and exercise self-efficacy.
• The study aims to determine the effectiveness of the tailored SAFE-TECH intervention compared to a control group.

Conclusions:

• SAFE-TECH aims to improve falls prevention by personalizing interventions based on individual risk factors.
• The program maintains the efficiency of group settings while addressing the heterogeneity of falls risk.
• Findings will inform practical strategies to decrease falls and related injuries in community-dwelling older adults.