BEHAVIORAL RESPONSES OF OLDER ADULTS FOLLOWING SCREENING AND EDUCATION TO REDUCE THE RISK OF FALLING AT A COMMUNITY HEALTH FAIR.

Abstract

Purpose/Hypothesis: Screening for risk of falls has become popular at community health fairs because of the high risk of falling among the senior population. The purposes of this study were to determine if a change in fall-risk behavior would occur following participation in the assessment and education provided at a health fair, to determine if individuals at risk for fall would follow recommendations over six months, and to compare the results with a similar study conducted over one month. Number of Subjects: 157 senior volunteers participated in a fall prevention screening at the Senior Expo, a community health fair. Materials/Methods: The Timed Up and Go (TUG) and Functional Reach (FR) tests were used to assess the participants' risk of falling. Following the screening the testers reviewed the results with each participant and prepared the scores to indicate high, moderate or low risk of falling. Verbal and written instructions, including helpful tips to reduce the risk of falling were provided. Testers included DPT students enrolled in a geriatric course with a service-learning component. Individual telephone interviews using a structured questionnaire were scheduled at one month and six months after the Senior Expo. Results: One hundred and twenty seven participants were contacted at one month and 94 at six months. One month after the Senior Expo 70% of the participants interviewed reported that they had changed at least one behavior and 55% had changed between two and four behaviors. After six months over 90% of the participants reported that they were implementing at least five of the eight risk reduction behaviors. All of the high risk participants visited their physician after the screening and half of them visited a physical therapist. There was a significant increase in participation with each of the eight risk reduction behaviors between the one- and six-month surveys. Conclusions: This study replicated a previous study conducted in another part of the country with the addition of a six-month telephone follow-up to inquire about maintenance of behavior change. The one-month telephone interview reminded participants about the risk reduction behaviors and provided further impetus for change. Screening and education at a community health expo with follow-up telephone contact do promote behaviors that can reduce the risk of falls among seniors. Clinical Relevance: This study illustrates the importance of education and prevention activities. The two telephone interviews found participants receptive and reinforced the importance of risk reduction behaviors. As behavior changes lead to decreased falls among older adults the detrimental effects of falls would be reduced.