A Group Intervention to Reduce Fall Risk Factors in Community-Dwelling Older Adults

External validity of physical activity interventions for community‐dwelling older adults with fall risk: a quantitative systematic literature review

“…Intervention doses ranged from 1-315 contacts (face to face or telephone sessions) with a median dose of approximately 15AE5 contacts. Intervention implementation costs, identified in three studies, ranged from $14AE87 per participant (Hakim et al 2003) to $80AE00 per person (Carter et al, 2002) to $NZ487 per person. Longer interventions reported higher implementation costs, but additional details were not available across studies.…”

“…Physical activity critical content in most studies included instructions for progressively intensified leg strengthening and balance activities and exercises. Tai Chi was also used (Lin et al 2006, Li et al 2005, Logghe et al 2009, Voukelatos et al 2007, Woo et al 2007, Hakim et al, 2003 and associated with decreased fall risk (Li et al 2005, Lin et al 2006, Voukelatos et al 2007) and fall occurrence (Li et al 2005, Voukelatos et al 2007). Non-traditional strength and balance activities such as square stepping, jazz dancing and walking were also associated with decreased fall risk (Dubbert et al 2002, Shigematsu et al 2008, Alpert et al 2009).…”

“…Comparisons of participants who withdrew from studies to those who completed studies, described in 42% of studies, produced varied results. Several studies reported statistically insignificant group differences in demographic characteristics, fall history, or physical function (Hakim et al 2003, Nitz & Choy 2004, Li et al 2005, Healy et al 2008; others reported statistically significant group differences. Compared to participants who completed interventions, participants who did not complete interventions were more often men (Morgan et al 2004), widowed, divorced, or single (Lin et al 2007), older (Fukukawa et al 2008), taking more medications (Morgan et al 2004) weaker, less active or physically functional (Day et al 2002, Morgan et al 2004, Means & O'Sullivan 2005, or with lower maximal oxygen consumption rates (Day et al 2002).…”

“…The Geriatric Depression Scale was used to measure depression in four studies; two of which reported statistically significant improvements in scores post-intervention (Inokuchi et al 2007, Lin et al 2007 whereas the remaining two reported no improvements (Alpert et al 2009, Vogler et al 2009). Fear of falling was measured using the Balance Self-Confidence scale (Robitaille et al 2005), Falls Self-Efficacy Scale (Clemson et al 2004, Nitz & Choy 2004, Fukukawa et al 2008, Greaney et al 2008,, Healy et al 2008, Logghe et al 2009), the Modified Falls Efficacy Scale (Day et al 2002, Latham et al 2003, Clemson et al 2004, Vogler et al 2009) the Mobility Efficacy Scale (Clemson et al 2004) the Survey of Activities and Fear of Falling in the Elderly Scale (Li et al 2005) a 10 cm visual analogue scale (Lin et al 2006, Weerdesteyn et al 2009) the Falls Control and Falls Management scales (Healy et al, 2008), and the Activities Specific Balance Scale (Haines et al 2009, Hakim et al, 2003. Of the studies measuring fear of falling, 46% reported improvements postintervention.…”

“…Hakim et al (2003) designed and tested a fall risk reduction programme operationalizing social cognitive theory constructs of behavioural capability, expectations, expectancies, components of observational learning and selfefficacy. Although there were statistically significant changes in fall risk and knowledge, measures and outcomes representing all theoretical constructs were not described (Hakim et al, 2003). Greaney et al (2008) evaluated an intervention tailored to stage of change, consistent with the transtheoretical model.…”