[Preliminary results of a community fall prevention programme: Precan study (falls prevention in La Ribera)]

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the results of a fall prevention programme designed to be applied to the elderly living in the community.

Material and methods: The sample consisted of 249 participants ≥70 years of age, who were randomly assigned to one of three groups. The monthly intervention group (GIM): instructions on fall prevention and healthy exercises to improve physical function and balance at beginning of the study, and a monthly theoretical and practical refresher session. The quarterly intervention group (GIT), with the same beginning intervention and a refresher session every three months. The control group (GC), the same beginning intervention but no refresher sessions.

Results: The mean age of the sample was 74.47 years (SD 5.33), with 64% women. The incidence of falls was reduced from 0.64 per patient year in the previous year to 0.39 in the post-intervention year in GIM, from 0.49 to 0.47 in GIT, and in the GC it remained at 0.47 before and twelve months after, but with no significant differences in the reduction between groups (P=.062). At the end of the study there was a decrease in Rizzo scale of 0.72 points (95% CI: 0.57-0.88, P<.001).

Conclusion: An interdisciplinary community intervention programme can contribute to reducing the incidence of falls. Further studies are required to continue research into the incidence of falls in the elderly living in the community.

Keywords: Anciano; Caídas; Elderly; Falls; Geriatric assessment; Prevention programme; Programas de prevención; Valoración geriátrica.