title: An interdisciplinary intervention to prevent falls in community-dwelling elderly persons: protocol of a cluster-randomized trial [PreFalls].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Prevention of falls in the elderly is a public health target in many countries around the world. While a large number of trials have investigated the effectiveness of fall prevention programs, few focussed on interventions embedded in the general practice setting and its related network. In the Prevent Falls (PreFalls) trial we aim to investigate the effectiveness of a pre-tested multi-modal intervention compared to usual care in this setting.
  
  
  METHODS
  PreFalls is a controlled multicenter prospective study with cluster-randomized allocation of about 40 general practices to an experimental or a control group. We aim to include 382 community dwelling persons aged 65 and older with an increased risk of falling. All participating general practitioners are trained to systematically assess the risk of falls using a set of validated tests. Patients from intervention practices are invited to participate in a 16-weeks exercise program with focus on fall prevention delivered by specifically trained local physiotherapists. Patients from practices allocated to the control group receive usual care. Main outcome measure is the number of falls per individual in the first 12 months (analysis by negative binomial regression). Secondary outcomes include falls in the second year, the proportion of participants falling in the first and the second year, falls associated with injury, risk of falls, fear of falling, physical activity and quality of life.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Reducing falls in the elderly remains a major challenge. We believe that with its strong focus on a both systematic and realistic fall prevention strategy adapted to primary care setting PreFalls will be a valuable addition to the scientific literature in the field.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  NCT01032252.
authors.affiliation: Institute of General Practice, Technische Universitaet Muenchen, Germany. blank@lrz.tum.de
authors.forename: Wolfgang A
authors.initials: WA
authors.lastname: Blank
authors.forename: Ellen
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Freiberger
authors.forename: Monika
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Siegrist
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Landendoerfer
authors.forename: Klaus
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Linde
authors.forename: Tibor
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Schuster
authors.forename: Klaus
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Pfeifer
authors.forename: Antonius
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Schneider
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Halle
mesh_terms: D000058:Accidental Falls / Q000517:prevention & control*; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D012307:Risk Factors