Perception of Physical Therapists on the Use of Mobile Applications to Prevent Falls in Older Adults-A...

Mobile apps (MA) may help to identify and measure fall risk factors to develop fall prevention interventions. However, the perception of health care professionals on using MA needs further investigation. Understanding the needs, context, and opinions of users is essential for developing high-quality tools.

This study aimed to investigate the perception of physical therapists about using MA for fall risk assessment in older adults.

Physical therapists caring for older adults (>60 years) in Brazil were invited to respond a web-based survey consisting of an online questionnaire about fall prevention in clinical practice. The likelihood of using MA for fall risk assessment was measured on a scale from 0 (not likely) to 10 (very likely). Sociodemographic, educational, and professional data were also collected. Barriers to MA use were investigated quantitatively and qualitatively. Descriptive statistics summarized the data, and the Chi-square test identified associations between perceived barriers and participant data. Qualitative data were summarized and analyzed using the Theoretical Domains Framework (TDF).

The survey received responses from 454 physical therapists. Most participants were women (age between 22 and 73 years) who worked independently and had six or more years of professional experience. The mean likelihood of using MA for fall risk assessment was 8.5 out of 10 (± 2.3). The main barriers were paying for the MA (n = 288; 63.4%) and need for internet connection (n = 103; 22.7%). Qualitative barriers were mostly related to the TDF domains of "environmental context and resources" and "goals". Younger age and practice in geriatric physical therapy were associated with a high likelihood of using MA for fall risk assessment.

Optimal design of MA for fall risk assessment should address potential barriers for its use, such as cost and internet connectivity. Additionally, these tools should account for user acceptability and environmental factors to ensure their successful implementation.