HEAD OVER HEELS - IMPACT OF A HEALTH PROMOTION PROGRAM TO REDUCE FALLS IN THE ELDERLY

The Fit (Falls Intervention Trials) Project was a randomized clinical trial of a program designed to reduce falls and their sequela among ol der people. The sample consisted of 100 persons who were age 60 and ov er, who lived in the Capital Region District (Victoria, B.C.) and who had experienced a fall in the preceding three months. The intervention consisted of a comprehensive risk assessment, individualized feedback about identified risks and a motivational video and booklet entitled ''Head Over Heels''. Outcome measures included fall incidence, falls s elf-efficacy, fear of falling, social functioning, health service util ization and quality of life. While there were no statistically signifi cant differences between the intervention and control groups on the ke y study variables, there were improvements in both groups between the beginning of the study and the six-month follow-up assessment. The pap er discusses possible reasons for these findings and their implication s for further research.