title: Monitoring falls in elderly people: lessons from a community-based project.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This paper describes an evaluation of a community-based fall-detection project using smart phone based tri-axial accelerometry to identify factors that affect adoption and use of such technology by elderly people.
  
  
  METHODS
  A mixed methods study using questionnaires and semi-structured interviews was conducted to evaluate attitudes of the elderly people participating, as well as project stakeholders involved in the project. Information registered in a web-based fall management system was analyzed both qualitatively and quantitatively, using an adapted version of Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Adoption rate was 61.7% and attrition rate was 57%, the most common reasons for attrition being health deterioration (50%) and problems with the device and the network (26.2%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We identified a number of challenges that affected the success of this project, including problems with the software, usability issues with the device, coverage of the network, training of participants, and inadequacy of providing participants with a strong sense of safety and security.
authors.affiliation: School of Computing Engineering & Mathematics, University of Western Sydney, Campbelltown, Australia.
authors.forename: Habibollah
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Pirnejad
authors.affiliation: School of Computing Engineering & Mathematics, University of Western Sydney, Campbelltown, Australia.
authors.forename: Golenur
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Huq
authors.affiliation: School of Computing Engineering & Mathematics, University of Western Sydney, Campbelltown, Australia.
authors.forename: Jim
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Basilkis
authors.affiliation: School of Computing Engineering & Mathematics, University of Western Sydney, Campbelltown, Australia.
authors.forename: Anthony
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Maeder
mesh_terms: D000058:Accidental Falls / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D056044:Actigraphy / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D020958:Australian Capital Territory / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D018670:Monitoring, Ambulatory / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010349:Patient Compliance / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*