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Controlled Clinical Trial
. 2008 May;29(3):343-50.
doi: 10.1016/j.cct.2007.10.004. Epub 2007 Oct 26.

Hierarchical models to evaluate translational research: Connecticut collaboration for fall prevention

T E Murphy  1 , M E Tinetti, H G Allore
Affiliations
Controlled Clinical Trial

Hierarchical models to evaluate translational research: Connecticut collaboration for fall prevention

T E Murphy et al. Contemp Clin Trials. 2008 May.

Abstract

Background and objective: Evidence-based second stage translational studies are necessary and difficult to evaluate. A quasi-experimental design is used to compare the rate of fall-related health care utilization of two geographically disparate areas in Connecticut, a small state in the northeastern United States, to evaluate an intervention designed to reduce fall-related injuries among older persons. This evaluation examines the two years immediately prior to intervention.

Methods: The experimental units are postal (i.e., zip) code tabulation areas (ZCTAs) in which counts of fall-related health care utilization and demographic characteristics can be gathered from local and federal public health sources. We employ hierarchical modeling to determine whether there was a difference in fall-related health care utilization between the study arms prior to initiating the intervention. Geographic information systems are used to characterize neighboring ZCTAs and to graph model-adjusted rates of fall-related utilization.

Results: After adjustment for covariates and spatial variation, we observed no significant difference between rates or temporal trends of fall-related health care utilization in the study arms over the two year pre-intervention period.

Conclusion: The study arms of the Connecticut Collaboration for Falls Prevention have equivalent rates and temporal trends of fall-related utilization over the two year pre-intervention period.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Annualized Number of Fall-Related Healthcare Utilizations per 1000 Persons Aged 70 and Older CT Zip Code Tabulation Areas During Pre-Intervention Period (October 1999 – September 2001)
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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