Abstract
BackgroundDizziness is a frequently reported symptom in older people that can markedly impair quality of life. This manuscript presents the protocol for a randomised controlled trial, which has the main objective of determining the impact of comprehensive assessment followed by a tailored multifaceted intervention in reducing dizziness episodes and symptoms, improving associated impairments to balance and gait and enhancing quality of life in older people with self-reported significant dizziness.MethodsThree hundred people aged 50 years or older, reporting significant dizziness in the past year will be recruited to participate in the trial. Participants allocated to the intervention group will receive a tailored, multifaceted intervention aimed at treating their dizziness symptoms over a 6 month trial period. Control participants will receive usual care. The primary outcome measures will be the frequency and duration of dizziness episodes, dizziness symptoms assessed with the Dizziness Handicap Inventory, choice-stepping reaction time and step time variability. Secondary outcomes will include health-related quality of life measures, depression and anxiety symptoms, concern about falling, balance and risk of falls assessed with the physiological fall risk assessment. Analyses will be by intention-to-treat.DiscussionThe study will determine the effectiveness of comprehensive assessment, combined with a tailored, multifaceted intervention on dizziness episodes and symptoms, balance and gait control and quality of life in older people experiencing dizziness. Clinical implications will be evident for the older population for the diagnosis and treatment of dizziness.Trial registrationThe study is registered with the Australia New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry ACTRN12612000379819.
Highlights
MethodsThree hundred people aged 50 years or older, reporting significant dizziness in the past year will be recruited to participate in the trial
Dizziness is a frequently reported symptom in older people that can markedly impair quality of life
There is evidence of a relationship between acute dizziness and falls [3, 7] and the frequency of dizziness episodes is associated with disability [1], falls and syncopal events [7]
Summary
Design A single blind parallel group randomised controlled trial will be conducted in 300 participants with dizziness. Baseline assessment and case conference All eligible participants will attend NeuRA for a three-hour baseline assessment undertaken by trained research assistants. These include diagnostic tests for descriptive purposes and for allocating intervention participants to treatment arms as well as baseline measures for the primary and secondary outcomes. A multidisciplinary case conference will be held within two weeks of the assessment to reach a consensus diagnosis and design a tailored intervention plan based on the baseline assessment results. Randomisation After completion of the baseline assessment and case conference, participants will be randomised into intervention or control groups. Staff performing outcome measurement and data analysis for the primary outcomes will be blinded to group allocation. Participants will be instructed not to inform the assessors of their intervention status
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