@article{ref1,
title="Implementation of evidence-based falls prevention in clinical services for high-risk clients",
journal="Journal of evaluation in clinical practice",
year="2014",
author="Day, Lesley and Trotter, Margaret J. and Hill, Keith D. and Haines, Terry P. and Thompson, Catherine",
volume="20",
number="3",
pages="255-259",
abstract="RATIONALE, AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: The extent to which best practice for falls prevention is being routinely delivered by health care providers for community-dwelling older adults is unclear. We investigated falls prevention practice among Hospital Admission Risk Programs (HARP) that provide and coordinate specialized health care for people at high risk of hospitalization. <br><br>METHOD: Cross-sectional survey of all HARP services in Victoria, excluding one paediatric programme (n = 34). The questionnaire focused upon medication review and exercise prescription, as these are the evidence-based falls interventions with a good fit with HARP services. <br><br>RESULTS: Completed questionnaires were received from 24 programmes (70.6%) that service 15 250 older clients (60+ years). All except one programme screened for medicine use; however, a lower proportion (65% of those that screen) target falls risk medications. Among the 17 programmes responding to the exercise prescription question, all routinely include strengthening exercises, and almost all (n = 15) include flexibility, endurance training and movement of the centre of gravity. A lesser proportion (71%) includes reducing the need for upper limb support. The majority of services (88%) undertake falls risk assessments, and all of these either make referral appointments for clients or refer to other services that make referral appointments for clients. Follow-up of appointments and the resulting recommendations was high. <br><br>CONCLUSION: Screening for falls risk medications could be improved and staff training in exercise prescription for balance challenge in this high-risk group may be needed. Although evidence-based falls prevention practice within Victorian HARP services appears strong, the effect on falls risk may not be as high as that achieved in randomized trials.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="1356-1294",
doi="10.1111/jep.12119",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/jep.12119"
}