Citation

Rixt Zijlstra GA, Du Moulin MF, van Haastregt JC, de Jonge M, Kempen GIJM, van der Poel A. Tijdschr. Gerontol. Geriatr. 2013; 44(6): 272-284.

Vernacular Title

Zicht op Evenwicht. Evaluatie van een landelijk geïmplementeerde cursus gericht op het verminderen van bezorgdheid om te vallen bij zelfstandig wonende ouderen.

Affiliation

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

Copyright

(Copyright © 2013, Van Loghum Slaterus for the Nederlandse Vereniging Voor Gerontologie and the Nederlands Instituut Voor Gerontologie)

DOI

10.1007/s12439-013-0045-1

PMID

24218167

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: A cognitive behavioral program reduced concerns about falling and related avoidance behavior among older community-dwelling adults in a randomized controlled trial. In the current study we examined the effects and acceptability of the program after nation-wide implementation into home care organizations in The Netherlands. METHODS: In a one-group pretest-posttest study with data collection before the start of the program and at 2 and 4 months, the effects and acceptability of the program were assessed in 125 community-dwelling older people. The outcomes of the effect evaluation included concerns about falls, related avoidance behavior, falls, fall-related medical attention, feelings of anxiety, symptoms of depression, and loneliness. RESULTS: Pretest-posttest analyses with the Wilcoxon signed-rank test and the paired t-test showed significant improvements at 4 months for concerns about falls, activity avoidance, number of falls in the past 2 months, feelings of anxiety, and symptoms of depression. No significant differences were shown for the other outcomes. DISCUSSION: After implementation in home care organizations, the outcomes indicate positive program effects on concerns about falls, avoidance behavior, and falls in community-dwelling older people. Given the similarity in results, i.e. between those of the previously performed randomized controlled trial and those of the current pretest-posttest study, we conclude that the program can be successfully implemented in practice. This article is an adjusted, Dutch version of Zijlstra GA, van Haastregt JC, Du Moulin MF, de Jonge MC, van der Poel A, Kempen GI. Effects of the implementation of an evidenc-based program to manage concerns about falls in older adults. The Gerontologist 2013;53(5):839-849; doi: 10.1093/geront/gns142.

Language: nl