Falls Prevention Evaluation and Development for Older Adults in the Community

Summary

Exercise-based fall prevention programmes with strength and balance components have been shown to reduce the rate of falls, risk of falling, fractures and injuries. However, there is little evidence on the implementation of these programmes in real-world settings.

This study aims to assess the effectiveness of exercise-based fall prevention interventions on fall risk (physical performance and fear of falling) among community-dwelling older adults who are at risk of falling in Singapore. A secondary aim is to assess the effectiveness of the programme on other health outcomes. The study will also evaluate the programme implementation from 3 perspectives of older adults, implementers and community partners.

Conditions

• Physical Performance
• Fear of Falling

Interventions

OTHER

Exercise-based fall prevention intervention (Modified Otago Exercise Programme and Modified Stepping On Programme)

The modified OEP is a group exercise programme that consists of progressive strength and balance exercises led by trained exercise leaders (fitness instructors or health coaches). The supervised sessions will be conducted twice a week (1 hour each) for 7 weeks. Participants will be given an exercise booklet and encouraged to exercise at home. The modified SOP is a group fall prevention programme that consists of exercise sessions and discussions on various falls prevention aspects facilitated by a trained programme leader and supported by programme facilitators and peer facilitators. The supervised sessions will be conducted once a week (2 hours each) for 7 weeks. Participants will be given homework and encouraged to exercise at home. In addition, there will be an optional home visit (Week 11), a 1-hour booster session (Week 19) and a telephone call (Week 31).

OTHER

Wait-list control

To receive fall prevention resources while waiting for their programme to start

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Ministry of Health, Singapore

  collaborator OTHER_GOV

• Tan Tock Seng Hospital

  collaborator OTHER

• Khoo Teck Puat Hospital

  collaborator OTHER

• Singapore Institute of Technology

  collaborator OTHER

• Duke-NUS Graduate Medical School

  collaborator OTHER

• Monash University

  collaborator OTHER

• Geriatric Education and Research Institute

  lead OTHER_GOV

Principal Investigators

• Chek Hooi Wong, MBBS, FRCP, MPH · Geriatric Education and Research Institute

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

HEALTH_SERVICES_RESEARCH

Masking

SINGLE

Model

SEQUENTIAL

Eligibility

Min Age

60 Years

Max Age

99 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2021-09-21

Primary Completion

2022-10-29

Completion

2022-10-29

Countries

• Singapore

Study Locations