Article

The aim of this study was to involve older people and physiotherapists
in the development of acceptable strategies to promote uptake and adherence with
an exercise-based falls prevention programme. METHOD: Focus groups were conducted
with older people attending a regional falls and syncope service (3 groups, total
12 participants) and local physiotherapists (4 groups, total 18 participants).
Framework analysis was undertaken to identify why uptake and adherence with an
exercise-based falls prevention programme is currently poor and to provide
suggestions for how it might be improved. RESULTS: The older people participated
in an exercise-based falls prevention programme to remain independent in
activities of daily living. They valued approaches that promoted self-efficacy
and self-management. In contrast, the physiotherapists perceived that many older
people were reluctant to participate in an exercise-based falls prevention
programme. While it was acknowledged that older people should be encouraged to
take greater responsibility for the maintenance of their own health, the
physiotherapists demonstrated a conflicting desire to remain in control of the
treatment programme. CONCLUSIONS: A focus on self-management support may provide
the key to promoting uptake and adherence with an exercise-based falls prevention
programme. Physiotherapists should move from being "experts" to "enablers" who
use their professional knowledge and expertise to support older people at risk of
falling to maintain optimum levels of health and independence. Implications for
Rehabilitation Despite the established efficacy of exercise-based falls
prevention programmes, their impact remains limited by low levels of uptake and
adherence. Clinical encounters between physiotherapists and older people at risk
of falling offer the opportunity for the exchange of new information to promote
patient empowerment and shared decision-making. Physiotherapists need to move
away from being experts who care for and do to their patients to enable us to use
their professional knowledge and expertise to maintain optimum levels of health
and independence for older people at risk of falling.

Langue : ANGLAIS