Health Education for Preventing Falls in Older Adults Living in the Community

Summary

This clinical trial aims to evaluate the effectiveness of three health education intervention modules in preventing falls among older adults living in the community. The study is designed as a factorial randomized controlled trial, assessing the impact of three health education intervention modules: Fall prevention knowledge education，Exercise education, and Home hazard reduction education. Each module will have a 'yes' and 'no' version, resulting in eight experimental conditions.

The primary questions it seeks to address are: (1) What is the main effect of different health education intervention modules on preventing falls in older adults living in the community? (2)What is the interactive effect of different health education intervention modules on preventing falls in older adults living in the community?

The trial will be conducted in twenty four sub-district in Baiyun District, Guangzhou City. An estimated 37 participants will be recruited from each of the 24 sub-districts, with the sub-districts being randomly assigned to one of the eight experimental groups by a statistician independent of the research team using computer-generated random numbers.

Conditions

• Accidental Falls
• Older Adults

Interventions

BEHAVIORAL

Fall prevention knowledge education

Frequency of Intervention: 4 sessions, 60 mins each, weeks 1, 3, 5, 8. Intervention format：group intervention, 12-15 participants in one group. Intervention content: Elderly fall risks, home safety improvements, community hazard identification, behavior modification. Intervention tools: digital teaching PPTs. Intervention deliverers: 2 members per community, one as leader for organizing health ed. activities (lectures, discussions, exercises, Q\&A), the other as assistant for support and participant safety during exercises.

BEHAVIORAL

Exercise education

Frequency of intervention: 4 sessions Duration of intervention: 30 minutes/session, once in each of the 1st, 3rd, 5th and 8th weeks of the intervention period. Intervention format: group intervention, 12 people in a group (in principle, no more than 15 people). Intervention content: The content of health education included (1) basic knowledge of exercise safety, 4 methods of balance function exercise (2) review 4 methods of balance function exercise(3) methods of exercising muscle strength (4) 2 methods of endurance exercise. Intervention tools: accompanying teaching materials Intervention deliverers: same as before.

BEHAVIORAL

Home hazard reduction education

Intervention Time: One home fall risk assessment and modification instruction at week 6 of health education. Frequency of Intervention: Single session. Intervention Format: Project staff conduct in-home fall risk assessments by appointment. Intervention Content: 1. Evaluate fall risks in elderly living areas. 2. Provide personal guidance, complete two written forms-one for records, one for the participants. 3. Supply night lights, anti-slip mats, warning signs, and carpet mats; more services encouraged where possible. Intervention Tools: Utilize "Elderly Home Fall Risk and Retrofitting Guide" for detailed assessments and suggestions. Include tools like night lights, mats, and signs. Intervention Deliverers: Skilled community social workers or community health center staff.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Southern Medical University, China

  collaborator OTHER

• Guangzhou Center for Disease Control and Prevention

  lead OTHER_GOV

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

PREVENTION

Masking

DOUBLE

Model

FACTORIAL

Eligibility

Min Age

60 Years

Max Age

80 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2024-08-01

Primary Completion

2025-02-01

Completion

2025-08-01