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. 2017 Jun;7(2):330-340.
doi: 10.1007/s13142-016-0444-2.

Predictors of and health- and fall-related program outcomes resulting from complete and adequate doses of a fall risk reduction program

Thelma J Mielenz  1 , Laura L Durbin  2 , Fern Hertzberg  3 , Diana Nobile-Hernandez  3 , Haomiao Jia  4
Affiliations

Predictors of and health- and fall-related program outcomes resulting from complete and adequate doses of a fall risk reduction program

Thelma J Mielenz et al. Transl Behav Med. 2017 Jun.

Abstract

Falls are dangerous and costly for older adults. The A Matter of Balance/Volunteer Lay Leader (AMOB/VLL) program is an evidence-based fall risk reduction program that could help reduce this burden. This study introduced a door-through-door transportation program to improve program delivery (N = 126). Characteristics predicting completion of all eight AMOB/VLL sessions were identified using logistic regression. Individual growth models were employed to determine the immediate, intermediate, and long-term goal outcomes resulting from receiving an adequate dose of the program (five to eight sessions). Self-restriction of activities due to fear of falling (OR 5.04, 95 % CI 1.86-13.69) and a lower frequency of moderate and vigorous physical activity (OR 1.14, 95 % CI 1.04-1.27) were significantly predictive of receiving a complete dose. Three outcome goals were significant, including (1) immediate-improved self-efficacy of managing medications and treatments, (2) intermediate-reduced activity limitations, and (3) intermediate-reduced physical disability. Self-restriction of activities due to a fear of falling and physical activity levels may be simple and effective screening questions to prevent AMOB/VLL attrition. In our study, those who did receive the program improved on a specific type of self-efficacy and on self-reported physical functioning.

Keywords: Community-based interventions; Evidence-based programs; Fall prevention; Fall risk reduction program; Older adults; Program adherence.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of interest

All authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Ethical approval

All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and the national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki Declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.

Welfare of animals

This article does not contain any studies with animals performed by any of the authors.

Informed consent

Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study.

IRB approval

This study was approved by the Columbia University Institutional Review Board.

Figures

Fig 1
Fig 1
Conceptual framework linking correlates and intervention intensity to program outcomes and public health impacts (reprinted from [16])
Fig 2
Fig 2
Defining fall-related psychological constructs (expanded and renamed from improved fall-related efficacy)
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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