Interdisciplinary Fall Prevention Education in the Community: Nurses Making an Impact.

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of this 8-week interdisciplinary educational program was to provide evidence-based fall prevention information to adults aged ≥65 years residing in an assisted living community.

Method: Eight 1-hour sessions on fall education were performed by interdisciplinary experts at an assisted living community. Control and intervention groups completed four assessments at baseline and completion of the program.

Results: Both groups had decreased Timed Up and Go (TUG) and Fear of Falling scores. The intervention group had increased scores on the knowledge of falling questionnaire, whereas the control group had decreased scores, indicating the education was effective in increasing knowledge of falls. Although not statistically significant, these results are clinically significant and reveal the positive effects of the interdisciplinary program.

Conclusion: Fall prevention education was successful in increasing older adults' knowledge about fall risk factors. There were decreases in TUG and Fear of Falling scores, revealing a positive impact of the program. [Journal of Gerontological Nursing, xx(xx), xx-xx.].