Older people's preferences regarding programme formats for managing concerns about falls

A.C. Dorresteijn*, G.A.R. Zijlstra, Y.J.J. Van Eijs, J.W.S. Vlaeyen, G.I.J.M. Kempen

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

Subjects and design: cross-sectional study of 5,755 community-dwelling people aged >= 70 years in the Netherlands.

Methods: a questionnaire assessed people's willingness to participate per programme format (n = 6), i.e. a programme at home, via telephone, via home visits and telephone consultations, via television or via Internet.

Results: of the 2,498 responders, 62.7% indicated no interest in any of the formats. The willingness to participate per programme format varied between 21.5 (at home) and 9.4% (via Internet). Among people interested in at least one of the formats (n = 931), higher levels of fall-related concerns were associated with increased preference for a programme with home visits. Poor perceived health and age >= 80 years were associated with less preference for a group programme. Higher educated people were more in favour of a programme via Internet compared with their lower educated counterparts.

Conclusion: the majority of community-dwelling older people are not likely to participate in any of the six proposed programme formats for managing concerns about falls. However, when diverse formats of effective programmes will be made available, uptake and adherence may be increased since programme preferences are associated to specific population characteristics.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)474-481
Number of pages8
JournalAge and Ageing
Volume41
Issue number4
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Jul 2012

Keywords

  • aged
  • fear of falling
  • programme formats
  • patient preference
  • accidental falls
  • elderly
  • RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED-TRIAL
  • ACTIVITY RESTRICTION
  • GROUP INTERVENTION
  • PHYSICAL FUNCTION
  • ELDERLY PERSONS
  • SELF-EFFICACY
  • FEAR
  • ADULTS
  • COMMUNITY
  • COHORT

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