Evaluating the effectiveness of a home-based exercise programme delivered through a tablet computer for preventing falls in older community-dwelling people over 2 years: study protocol for the Standing Tall randomised controlled trial.
BACKGROUND
In order to prevent falls, older people should exercise for at least 2 h per week for 6 months, with a strong focus on balance exercises. This article describes the design of a randomised controlled trial to evaluate the effectiveness of a home-based exercise programme delivered through a tablet computer to prevent falls in older people.


METHODS
Participants aged 70 years or older, living in the community in Sydney will be recruited and randomly allocated to an intervention or control group. The intervention consists of a tailored, home-based balance training delivered through a tablet computer. Intervention participants will be asked to complete 2 h of exercises per week for 2 years. Both groups will receive an education programme focused on health-related information relevant to older adults, delivered through the tablet computer via weekly fact sheets. Primary outcome measures include number of fallers and falls rate recorded in weekly fall diaries at 12 months. A sample size of 500 will be necessary to see an effect on falls rate. Secondary outcome measures include concern about falling, depressive symptoms, health-related quality of life and physical activity levels (in all 500 participants); and physiological fall risk, balance, functional mobility, gait, stepping and cognitive performance (in a subsample of 200 participants). Adherence, acceptability, usability and enjoyment will be recorded in intervention group participants over 2 years. Data will be analysed using the intention-to-treat principle. Secondary analyses are planned in people with greater adherence. Economic analyses will be assessed from a health and community care provider perspective.


BACKGROUND
Ethical approval was obtained from UNSW Ethics Committee in December 2014 (ref number HC#14/266). Outcomes will be disseminated through publication in peer-reviewed journals and presentations at international conferences.


BACKGROUND
Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ACTRN)12615000138583.
Neuroscience Research Australia, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
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Delbaere
Neuroscience Research Australia, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
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Valenzuela
Neuroscience Research Australia, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
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Woodbury
Neuroscience Research Australia, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
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Davies
Neuroscience Research Australia, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
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Yeong
Neuroscience Research Australia, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
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Steffens
Neuroscience Research Australia, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
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Miles
Neuroscience Research Australia, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
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Pickett
Department of Health Services Research-Focusing on Chronic Care and Ageing, CAPHRI School for Public Health and Primary Care, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands.
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Zijlstra
Sydney School of Public Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia Ageing Work and Health Research Unit, Faculty of Health Sciences, The University of Sydney, Lidcombe, New South Wales, Australia.
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Clemson
Neuroscience Research Australia, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia Prince of Wales Clinical School, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
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JC
Close
Sydney School of Public Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia Institute for Choice UniSA, North Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
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Howard
Neuroscience Research Australia, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
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Lord
D000058:Accidental Falls / Q000517:prevention & control*; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001315:Australia; D034201:Computers, Handheld; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D004856:Postural Balance; D011788:Quality of Life; D012107:Research Design; D012111:Residence Characteristics
GERIATRIC MEDICINE; PREVENTIVE MEDICINE; PUBLIC HEALTH; QUALITATIVE RESEARCH; REHABILITATION MEDICINE