Article

Falls, loss of health-related quality of life and physical capacity,
reduced participation in activities of daily living, and increased fear of
falling are all potential outcomes for older adults discharged from hospital. A
low-cost video based exercise programme may address this. DESIGN: This study was
a randomized controlled trial with blinded outcomes assessment and a six-month follow-up. SUBJECTS AND SETTING: Participants were older adults (>65 years) using
a mobility aid discharged from a tertiary hospital in Brisbane, Australia,
without referral for community-based rehabilitation services. INTERVENTION: A
digital video disk-based programme encompassing six exercise types each with six
levels of difficulty. A home visit from a project physiotherapist was conducted
to ensure patient safety. Control group patients received usual care. MAIN
MEASURES: Falls, health-related quality of life, participation in activities of
daily living, physical capacity and fear of falling. RESULTS: Study participants
(n = 53, 19 intervention, 34 control) experienced decreasing health-related
quality of life, several falls (72), and lower levels of participation in
activities of daily living over the six-month follow-up. The intervention group
did not differ significantly from the control group in terms of the outcomes
examined, though a non-significant reduction in the rate of falls was observed.
Intervention group participants complied with the exercise programme well during
the first two weeks following discharge from hospital but then reduced their
compliance levels thereafter. CONCLUSIONS: The intervention may be beneficial for
reducing the rate of falls in this patient population though further research
with a larger sample size is indicated.

Langue : ANGLAIS