Population-based interventions for the prevention of fall-related injuries in elderly people

Conclusion: Indications for effectiveness

A population-based approach to the prevention of fall-related injury is an effective strategy, leading to a 6-30% injury reduction.

Recommendations (for research & practice)

Future research:

Cluster randomised, multiple community trials of population-based interventions are indicated to increase the level of evidence in support of the population-based approach.
Research is also required to elucidate the barriers and facilitators in population-based interventions that influence the extent to which population programmes are effective.

Future intervention:

Countermeasures for the prevention of fall-related injuries are identified in the context of fall prevention (e.g. home hazard reduction, exercise, physical hazard removal, promotion of physical activity, medication management).

A multi-strategy approach in health promotion is preferred to reach the entire community, involving its members, experts, health care workers and institutional residences. Some strategies consist of community education (brochures, posters, home visits, radio and television) policy development and engagement of local clinicians.

Review Date: 16/10/2009
Version: 1.0
Status: Publish

Procedure
First the titles and then abstracts were scanned in order to include relevant studies. One recent review was selected and scrutinised and one background document was created.

Background documents

Population-based interventions for the prevention of fall-related injuries in older people (version 1)
R. McClure, C. Turner, N. Peel ... [et al.] (2005)