Community falls prevention for people who call an emergency ambulance after a fall: randomised controlled trial.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

To evaluate whether a service to prevent falls in the community would help reduce the rate of falls in older people who call an emergency ambulance when they fall but are not taken to hospital.

Design

Randomised controlled trial.

Setting

Community covered by four primary care trusts, England.

Participants

204 adults aged more than 60 living at home or in residential care who had fallen and called an emergency ambulance but were not taken to hospital.

Interventions

Referral to community fall prevention services or standard medical and social care.

Main outcome measures

The primary outcome was the rate of falls over 12 months, ascertained from monthly diaries. Secondary outcomes were scores on the Barthel index, Nottingham extended activit

SUBMITTER: Logan PA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2868162 | biostudies-literature | 2010 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature