Article

Over the past decade falls in the older population have become a priority in
government policy. There is good evidence to suggest that tailored exercise
effectively reduces falls; however, much of this evidence takes the form of
randomized controlled trials that do not reflect the diversity of clinical
practice. In response to emerging evidence, a community falls prevention program,
called Staying Steady, was developed targeting older people at risk of falls. The
program was evaluated using a mixed methods approach to capture both the personal
experiences of the five participants, and any measurable clinical outcomes. The
narrative accounts, supported by the measurable clinical outcomes, indicated that
it was possible to replicate the results of large trials at a local level. The
qualitative aspect of the evaluation enabled detailed consideration of other
issues important to falls prevention programs. A social cognitive model was used
to explain the reasons why participants either did, or did not, adhere to the
program. The acceptability of the program to the participants was also explored
in detail. Recommendations have been made to develop the Staying Steady program
for future service users.

Langue : ANGLAIS