Can chronic disease management plans including occupational therapy and physiotherapy services contribute to reducing falls risk in older people?
BACKGROUND
Exercise and home modifications are effective interventions for preventing falls. Chronic disease management (CDM) items are one way for general practitioners (GPs) to access these interventions. This study aimed to evaluate the outcomes and feasibility of using CDM items for occupational therapy (OT) and physiotherapy (PT) sessions to address falls risk.


METHODS
A pre-post pilot study design was used to evaluate five collaborative sessions shared by a private OT and PT using CDM items and a GP management plan. Pre and post intervention measures were used to evaluate outcomes for eight patients aged ≥75 years from two GP practices.


RESULTS
At 2 months post-intervention there were significant improvements in everyday functioning (P = 0.04), physical capacity (P = 0.01) and falls efficacy (P =0.01). Adherence to the intervention was excellent.


CONCLUSIONS
Falls prevention interventions can be effective in primary care settings and sustainable pathways need to be developed to ensure access for older people at risk.
PhD, MEdStud, BEdStud, BSc (OT), DipOT, Associate Professor Occupational Therapy, Faculty of Health Sciences, Discipline of Occupational Therapy, University of Sydney, NSW.
Lynette
L
Mackenzie
Lindy
L
Clemson
D000058:Accidental Falls / Q000517:prevention & control*; D000061:Accidents, Home / Q000517:prevention & control*; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002908:Chronic Disease / Q000628:therapy*; D019468:Disease Management; D005081:Exercise Therapy; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D058006:General Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009788:Occupational Therapy; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D010865:Pilot Projects; D018401:Sample Size