TY - JOUR PY - 2010// TI - The Effect of a program of Multifactorial Fall Prevention on Health Related Quality of Life, Functional Ability, Fear of Falling and Psychological Well-being. A Randomized Controlled Trial JO - Aging clinical and experimental research A1 - Bonnerup Vind, Ane A1 - Elkjaer Andersen, H A1 - Damgaard Pedersen, K A1 - Joergensen, Torben A1 - Schwarz, P. SP - 249 EP - 254 VL - 22 IS - 3 N2 - Background and aims: Falls among older people are associated with injury, functional decline, fear of falling, and depression. This study aims to evaluate the effect of multifactorial fall prevention on function, fear of falling, health related quality of life and psychological well-being. Methods: 392 older people >/= 65 years sustaining a fall leading to treatment in emergency room or hospitalization were included in a randomized, controlled intervention study on multifactorial fall prevention. The intervention consisted of systematic assessment and individualized treatment aimed at reducing risk factors for falls, and was performed at the geriatric outpatient department of a university hospital. The control group received usual care. Outcome measures were functional ability; Barthel Index and Frenchay Activity Index, fear of falling; Activities Balance Confidence Scale, Health related quality of life; SF-36, and psychological well-being; SCL-92 and were recorded at interviews 6 and 12 months after inclusion. Results: Only physical function of SF-36 was slightly positively affected by the intervention (p=0.04), while there was no effect on general health (p=0.49) or mental health (p=0.39) items, Barthel Index (p=0.10), Frenchay Activity Index (p=0.71), balance confidence (p=0.77), anxiety (p=0.92), depression (p=0.90) or somatization (p=0.13). Conclusions: This program of multifactorial fall prevention could have an effect on the physical function item of health related quality of life in favour of the intervention group, but no effect on other measures of health related quality of life, daily function, fear of falling or psychological well-being.
Language: en
LA - en SN - 1594-0667 UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.3275/6628 ID - ref1 ER -