RESPOND - A patient-centred programme to prevent secondary falls in older people presenting to the emergency department with a fall: Protocol for a multicentre randomised controlled trial

Barker, A. and Cameron, P. and Hill, K. and Flicker, L. and Haines, T. and Lowthian, J. and Waldron, N. et al. 2015. RESPOND - A patient-centred programme to prevent secondary falls in older people presenting to the emergency department with a fall: Protocol for a multicentre randomised controlled trial. Injury Prevention. 21 (1): 041271.

Source Title

Injury Prevention

DOI

10.1136/injuryprev-2014-041271

ISSN

1353-8047

School

School of Physiotherapy and Exercise Science

URI

http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/15330

Collection

Curtin Research Publications

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Participation in falls prevention activities by older people following presentation to the emergency department (ED) with a fall is suboptimal. This randomised controlled trial (RCT) will test the RESPOND programme, an intervention designed to improve older persons' participation in falls prevention activities through delivery of patient-centred education and behaviour change strategies. DESIGN AND SETTING: A RCT at two tertiary referral EDs in Melbourne and Perth, Australia. PARTICIPANTS: 528 community-dwelling people aged 60-90 years presenting to the ED with a fall and discharged home will be recruited. People who require an interpreter or hands-on assistance to walk; live in residential aged care or >50 km from the trial hospital; have terminal illness, cognitive impairment, documented aggressive behaviour or a history of psychosis; are receiving palliative care or are unable to use a telephone will be excluded. METHODS: Participants will be randomly allocated to the RESPOND intervention or standard care control group. RESPOND incorporates (1) a home-based risk factor assessment; (2) education, coaching, goal setting and follow-up telephone support for management of one or more of four risk factors with evidence of effective interventions and (3) healthcare provider communication and community linkage delivered over 6 months. Primary outcomes are falls and fall injuries per person-year. DISCUSSION: RESPOND builds on prior falls prevention learnings and aims to help individuals make guided decisions about how they will manage their falls risk. Patient-centred models have been successfully trialled in chronic and cardiovascular disease; however, evidence to support this approach in falls prevention is limited. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: The protocol for this study is registered with the Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ACTRN12614000336684).