HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Submit a response Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when Rapid Responses are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Ness, K. K Articles by Ice, G. H Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Ness, K. K Articles by Ice, G. H Related Collections Health and Wellness/Prevention Patient/Client-Related Instruction Examination/Evaluation: Other Falls and Falls Prevention Social Bookmarking                      What's this?

Screening, Education, and Associated Behavioral Responses to Reduce Risk for Falls Among People Over Age 65 Years Attending a Community Health Fair

KK Ness, PT, MPH, GCS, is Research Assistant, Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN. Address all correspondence to Ms Ness at Division of Pediatric Epidemiology and Clinical Research, University of Minnesota, MMC 715, 420 Delaware St SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455 (USA) (ness{at}epi.umn.edu)
JG Gurney, PhD, is Associate Professor, Division of Pediatric Epidemiology and Clinical Research, Department of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota
GH Ice, PhD, is Assistant Professor, Department of Social Medicine, College of Osteopathic Medicine, Ohio University, Athens, Ohio

Background and Purpose. Because of the high risk of falling and the recognition that falling is a "geriatric syndrome," screening for risk of falls has become popular at community health fairs. The purposes of this study were to determine whether health fair screening and educational intervention would result in behaviors that could reduce the risk of falls and to determine whether adoption of risk-reduction behaviors differed between people over age 65 years screened as being at high risk for falls and those screened as being at lower risk for falls. Subjects and Methods. The Berg Balance Test was used to classify fall risk in 68 individuals aged 57 to 89 years who were attending a community health fair. A score of 45 or lower led to a categorization of the person being at high risk for falls. All subjects were provided recommendations intended to reduce fall risk. Participants were interviewed by telephone 30 days after the screening to assess implementation of these recommendations. Results. Seventy-two percent of the participants reported implementing at least one risk-reduction behavior. The high-risk group was more likely to implement risk-reduction behaviors than the low-risk group. Discussion and Conclusion. Screening and education in a health fair setting appear to promote behaviors that could reduce fall risk among elderly people. Future study with a control group that does not receive an educational intervention is needed to draw more definite conclusions about the value of this health promotion activity for fall prevention.

Key Words: Aging • Falls • Health fair • Risk • Screening

CiteULike    Complore    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    What's this?

This article has been cited by other articles:

				A. D Deshpande, E. A Dodson, I. Gorman, and R. C Brownson Physical Activity and Diabetes: Opportunities for Prevention Through Policy Physical Therapy, November 1, 2008; 88(11): 1425 - 1435. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				R. L. Cromwell, P. M. Meyers, P. E. Meyers, and R. A. Newton Tae Kwon Do: An Effective Exercise for Improving Balance and Walking Ability in Older Adults J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci, June 1, 2007; 62(6): 641 - 646. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. C. Pressley, B. Barlow, L. Quitel, and A. Jafri Improving Access to Comprehensive Injury Risk Assessment and Risk Factor Reduction in Older Adult Populations Am J Public Health, April 1, 2007; 97(4): 676 - 678. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]