AUTHOR=Naseri Chiara , McPhail Steven M. , Morris Meg E. , Haines Terry P. , Etherton-Beer Christopher , Shorr Ronald , Flicker Leon , Bulsara Max , Lee Den-Ching A. , Francis-Coad Jacqueline , Waldron Nicholas , Hill Anne-Marie 

TITLE=Tailored Education Increased Capability and Motivation for Fall Prevention in Older People After Hospitalization

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Public Health

VOLUME=Volume 9 - 2021

YEAR=2021

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/public-health/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2021.683723

DOI=10.3389/fpubh.2021.683723

ISSN=2296-2565

ABSTRACT=Recently hospitalized older people are at risk of falls and face barriers to undertaking fall prevention strategies after they return home from hospital. We examined the effects of tailored education delivered by physiotherapists on the knowledge (capability) and motivation of older people to engage in fall prevention after hospital discharge. Utilizing data gathered from our recent trial, we analyzed data from 390 people 60 years and over without impaired cognition (>7/10 Abbreviated Mental Test Score) and discharged from three Australian hospitals. Motivation and capability were measured at baseline in hospital and at six-months after hospital discharge by blinded assistants using structured surveys. Bivariate analysis using generalized linear modeling explored the impact of the education on capability and motivation. Engagement in fall prevention strategies was entered as an independent variable during analysis to determine associations with capability and motivation. The education significantly improved capability [-0.4, 95%CI (-0.7, -0.2), p<0.01] and motivation [-0.8, 95%CI (-1.1, -0.5), p<0.01] compared to social-control at the time of hospital discharge. In contrast, social-control participants gained capability and motivation over the six-months, and no significant differences were found between groups in capability [0.001, 95%CI (-0.2, 0.2), p=0.9] and motivation [-0.01, 95%CI (-0.3, 0.3), p=0.9] at follow-up. Tailored fall prevention education is recommended around hospital discharge. Participants still needed to overcome barriers to falls prevention engagement post-hospitalization. Thus, tailored education along with direct clinical services such as physiotherapy and social supports is warranted for older people to avoid falls and regain function following hospitalization.