title: Effectiveness of a home hazard modification program for reducing falls in urban community-dwelling older adults: A randomized controlled trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the potential improvement of fall prevention awareness and home modification behaviors and to decrease indoor falls by applying a home hazard modification program (HHMP) in community-dwelling older adults followed up to 1 year in this randomized controlled trial.
  
  
  METHODS
  The present authors randomly assigned 130 older adults living in the Tokyo metropolitan region to either the HHMP intervention group (n = 67) or the control group (n = 63). Both groups received four, 2 h fall prevention multifactorial programs including education regarding fall risk factors, food and nutrition, foot self-care, and exercise sessions. However, only the HHMP group received education and practice regarding home safety by using a model mock-up of a typical Japanese home.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean age of the HHMP group was 75.7 years and the control group 75.8. The HHMP group showed a 10.9% reduction in overall falls, and falls indoors showed an 11.7% reduction at 52 weeks. Those aged 75 years and over showed a significant reduction in both overall falls and indoor falls at 12 weeks. Fall prevention awareness and home modifications were significantly improved in the HHMP group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  HHMP has the potential to improve fall prevention awareness and home modification behaviors, and specifically decreased overall and indoor falls in 12 weeks in those aged 75 years and older in community-dwelling older adults.
authors.affiliation: College of Nursing, St. Luke's International University, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Tomoko
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kamei
authors.affiliation: College of Nursing, St. Luke's International University, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Fumiko
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Kajii
authors.affiliation: College of Nursing, St. Luke's International University, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Yuko
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yamamoto
authors.affiliation: Takasaki University of Commerce Junior College, Gunma, Japan.
authors.forename: Yukako
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Irie
authors.affiliation: School of Lifelong Sport, Hokusho University, Hokkaido, Japan.
authors.forename: Rumi
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kozakai
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, Faculty of Health Care Sciences, Chiba Prefectural University of Health Sciences, Chiba, Japan.
authors.forename: Tomoko
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sugimoto
authors.affiliation: College of Nursing, St. Luke's International University, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Ayako
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Chigira
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Gerontology, Graduate School of J.F. Oberlin University, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Naoakira
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Niino
mesh_terms: D000058:Accidental Falls / Q000517:prevention & control*; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D017751:Safety Management / Q000592:standards*; D014041:Tokyo; D014505:Urban Population
keywords: accidental falls; aged; home hazards; program evaluation; randomized controlled trial