Feasibility and effectiveness of a nurse-led community exercise programme for prevention of falls among frail elderly people: a multi-centre controlled trial.
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether an exercise programme provided by public health nurses is effective in improving physical function and psychological status in elderly people, in reducing falls and risk factors for falls in elderly people, and whether the intervention is a feasible programme within the community.


METHODS
Controlled intervention trial.


METHODS
Participants included 144 persons in the intervention group and 124 persons in the control group, who were living at home, aged over 65 years, and with 5 or more risk factors for falls identified using the questionnaire for fall assessment (Suzuki).


METHODS
For participants in the intervention group, an exercise programme was provided by public health nurses. This comprised a weekly exercise class of 2 hours for 17 weeks, supplemented by daily home exercises. Number of risk factors, physical function and psychological status were compared between the intervention and control groups before and after intervention. The number of further falls during the intervention was also compared between the 2 groups.


RESULTS
The programme significantly improved physical function and emotional status, and reduced the number of falls and risk factors for falls. The excellent adherence rate represented broad acceptance of the intervention.


CONCLUSIONS
The intervention programme was effective and feasible to operate in the community.
Inokuchi
Shigeru
S
Department of Orhtopaedic Surgery, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Nagasaki University, Japan.
Matsusaka
Nobuou
N
Hayashi
Takuo
T
Shindo
Hiroyuki
H
D000058:Accidental Falls / Q000517:prevention & control*; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005081:Exercise Therapy; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D016330:Frail Elderly / Q000523:psychology; D005851:Geriatric Nursing; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan; D008297:Male; D011637:Public Health Nursing; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires