Patterns of health service use before and after a statewide fall prevention initiative for older adults at risk of falls.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

To understand health-care burden from fall-related injury, we investigated patterns of health service use in participants of the Australian statewide Stepping On fall prevention program.

Methods

Routinely collected ambulance, emergency, hospital and mortality data for 9163 participants across NSW Local Health Districts between 2009 and 2015 were analysed for patterns in fall-related health service use three years before and after the Stepping On program using negative binomial regression analyses.

Results

Overall fall-related health service use increased over the 6-year study period. There was a high period of usage prior to program participation, which decreased postprogram, then appeared to increase again after 12-15 months. Subgroup analysis showed strong

SUBMITTER: Paul SS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10946496 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature