title: "Are Your Clients Having Fun?" The Implications of Respondents' Preferences for the Delivery of Group Exercise Programs for Falls Prevention.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Group exercise has been shown to be effective in preventing falls; however, adherence to these interventions is often poor. Older adults' preferences for how these programs can be delivered are unknown.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To identify older people's preferences for how group exercise programs for falls prevention can be delivered.
  
  
  METHODS
  A two-wave, cross-sectional, state-wide telephone survey was undertaken. Respondents were community-dwelling men and women aged 70+ in Victoria, Australia.
  
  
  METHODS
  Open-ended questions were asked to elicit information regarding respondent preferences of the program, which were analyzed using a framework approach.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Ninety-seven respondents completed the follow-up survey. The results indicate that older adults most frequently report the short-term advantages and disadvantages when describing their preferences for group exercise, such as enjoyment, social interaction, and leader qualities. Longer-term advantages such as falls prevention were described less frequently.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study indicates the importance of interpersonal skills, and that the opportunity for social interaction should not be overlooked as a positive feature of a group exercise program.
authors.affiliation: Physiotherapy Department, Monash University, Frankston, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Lucy
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: McPhate
authors.forename: Emily M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Simek
authors.forename: Terry P
authors.initials: TP
authors.lastname: Haines
authors.forename: Keith D
authors.initials: KD
authors.lastname: Hill
authors.forename: Caroline F
authors.initials: CF
authors.lastname: Finch
authors.forename: Lesley
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Day
mesh_terms: D000056:Accident Prevention / Q000379:methods*; D000058:Accidental Falls / Q000517:prevention & control*; D000368:Aged; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D006126:Group Processes; D006801:Humans; D057187:Independent Living; D008297:Male; D010349:Patient Compliance; D057240:Patient Preference; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014739:Victoria