Citation

Rixt Zijlstra GA, van Haastregt JC, Kempen GIJM. Tijdschr. Gerontol. Geriatr. 2012; 43(4): 164-174.

Vernacular Title

'Zicht op Evenwicht': een effectieve interventie om bezorgdheid om te vallen en gerelateerd vermijdingsgedrag bij ouderen te verminderen.

Affiliation

Department of Health Services Research, Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Maastricht University, Maastricht. r.zijlstra@maastrichtuniversity.nl

Copyright

(Copyright © 2012, Van Loghum Slaterus for the Nederlandse Vereniging Voor Gerontologie and the Nederlands Instituut Voor Gerontologie)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

23082409

Abstract

Concerns about falls and related avoidance behavior are common among older people and may lead to decreased quality of life, decreased physical and psychosocial functioning, and premature admission to a nursing home. In a randomized controlled trial among 540 community-dwelling older people we studied the feasibility and effects of a cognitive behavioral program on concerns about falls, related avoidance of activity, and falls. Data of the process evaluation obtained from participants in the intervention group (n = 280) and the trainers (n = 6) showed that the program was considered as feasible by the trainers, and positively judged by participants and trainers. Furthermore, participants experienced benefits from attending the program (61% still reported benefits one year after the program). Prior to the start of the program 26% of the participants of the intervention dropped out, yet, among the participants who started the program completion was high (84%). The effect evaluation showed positive outcomes for concerns about falls, related avoidance of activity, and daily activity at 2 months (after the program) when comparing the intervention group with the control group (n = 260). Long-term effects were also shown for, amongst others, concerns about falls and recurrent falls. Following these positive results the cognitive behavioral group program is currently made available to geriatric care settings nationwide in the Netherlands.

Language: nl