title: The Relationship between Falls Efficacy and Improvement in Fall Risk Factors Following an Exercise Plus Educational Intervention for Older Adults with Hip Osteoarthritis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Older adults with decreased confidence in their ability to prevent a fall may benefit from an exercise programme that includes self-efficacy-enhancing education. The objectives of this study were to explore differences in fall-risk outcomes in older adults with higher vs. lower levels of falls efficacy and to evaluate the relationship between baseline falls-efficacy status and changes in fall risk factors following two interventions.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty-four older adults with hip osteoarthritis and at least one risk factor for falls received aquatic exercise twice weekly plus education once weekly (EE) or aquatic exercise only, twice weekly (EO), for 11 weeks.
  
  
  RESULTS
  EE participants with low baseline falls efficacy demonstrated significantly (p<0.05) greater improvement in balance and falls efficacy compared to EE participants with high baseline falls efficacy. In the EE group only, baseline falls-efficacy status (low vs. high median split on the Activities-specific Balance Confidence Scale) was significantly (p<0.05) correlated with positive balance and falls-efficacy change scores (Spearman rank r=0.45 and 0.63 respectively).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Individuals with one or more fall-risk factors and low falls efficacy may benefit from receiving an intervention that combines exercise with self-efficacy-enhancing education. Falls-efficacy screening may be important for decisions regarding referral to fall-prevention programmes.
authors.affiliation: School of Physical Therapy, College of Medicine, University of Saskatchewan.
authors.forename: C M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Arnold
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Faulkner
authors.forename: N C
authors.initials: NC
authors.lastname: Gyurcsik
mesh_terms: D000058:Accidental Falls / Q000517:prevention & control; D015444:Exercise; D005081:Exercise Therapy; D006801:Humans; D015207:Osteoarthritis, Hip; D012307:Risk Factors