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Engaging community organizations in falls prevention for older adults: Moving from research to action

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Abstract

Objectives

Falls prevention (FP) evidence abounds but falls rates remain relatively unaffected. This study aimed to explore community service providers’ use of evidence-based FP interventions, attitudes toward implementation, knowledge and capacity for FP engagement, collaboration in FP, and organizational readiness to implement evidence. To our knowledge, this is the first study exploring the potential for broader integration of FP throughout communities.

Methods

A purposive sampling of providers (n = 84), in varied roles within diverse senior-serving community organizations (both health and non-health sectors) across disparate geographies, completed a structured survey as part of a larger mixed methods study.

Results

Nearly all (90%) reported already implementing at least one evidence-based FP practice. The majority indicated that falls were preventable (82%) and a top concern for older adults (75%), and that FP would be beneficial to their clients (75%). There were, however, notable differences between health and non-health sectors in their: confidence in providing FP activities (86% vs. 47%), desire for future collaboration (86% vs. 56%) and already knowing how best to provide FP activities (49% vs. 36%). Only some (21 %) perceived that staff to a great extent had the necessary knowledge and skills, and few (10%) perceived that available resources could support FP activities.

Conclusion

Community service providers generally supported FP, but resources limited implementation, particularly in non-health sectors. Translating FP evidence to better fit community settings, and fostering collaboration to bridge resource gaps, suggest a public health role in the broader integration of FP within and across community sectors.

Résumé

Objectifs

Les faits liés à la prévention des chutes (PC) abondent, mais le nombre de chutes demeure relativement le même. La présente étude explore le recours par les fournisseurs de services communautaires aux interventions et attitudes fondées sur les faits en matière de prévention des chutes pour la mise en œuvre, les connaissances et la capacité de mobilisation à la PC, de collaboration en matière de PC et la volonté des organisations de mettre ces faits en œuvre. À notre connaissance, il s’agit de la première étude qui explore la possibilité d’une intégration plus large de la PC dans les collectivités.

Méthodes

Un échantillon de fournisseurs choisis à dessein (n = 84), jouant divers rôles au sein des organisations qui servent les personnes âgées (des secteurs de la santé et autres) dans des endroits disparates, ont répondu à un sondage structuré dans le cadre d’une étude plus large sur les méthodes mixtes.

Résultats

Presque tous (90 %) ont déclaré mettre en œuvre au moins une pratique fondée sur les faits en matière de PC. La majorité a précisé que les chutes peuvent être évitées (82 %) et sont une préoccupation majeure chez les adultes plus âgés (75 %), et que la PC est bénéfique pour leurs clients (75 %). Mais il y a cependant des différences importantes entre les secteurs de la santé et les autres pour ce qui est de leur confiance dans l’offre d’activités de PC (86 % c. 47 %), de leur désir de collaboration future (86 % c. 56 %) et de leur connaissance du meilleur moyen d’offrir des activités de PC (49 % c. 36 %). Seulement 21 % d’entre eux pensent que le personnel possède dans une grande mesure les connaissances et habiletés nécessaires et quelques-uns (10 %) pensent que les ressources disponibles pourraient soutenir les activités de PC.

Conclusions

Les fournisseurs de services communautaires appuient généralement la PC, mais les ressources limitent sa mise en œuvre, dans les autres secteurs en particulier. Ajuster les faits sur la PC pour mieux les adapter au cadre communautaire et promouvoir la collaboration pour combler le manque de ressources laisse penser que la santé publique a un rôle à jouer dans une intégration plus large de la PC au sein des secteurs communautaires.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Nursing, McMaster University, 1280 Main St. W., Health Sciences Centre, Room 3N25B, Hamilton, ON, L8S 4K1, Canada

    Maureen F. Markle-Reid (Associate Professor and Canada Research Chair, Aging, Chronic Disease and Health Promotion Interventions), Holly D. Reimer PhD & Jennifer L. McGugan BSc

  2. Halton Region Health Department, Oakville, ON, Canada

    Catherine S. Dykeman BScN

  3. Oxford County Public Health & Emergency Services, Woodstock, ON, Canada

    Lorna J. Boratto BScN

  4. Hastings & Prince Edward County Public Health, Belleville, ON, Canada

    Carol E. Goodall BScN

Authors
  1. Maureen F. Markle-Reid
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  2. Catherine S. Dykeman BScN
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  3. Holly D. Reimer PhD
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  4. Lorna J. Boratto BScN
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  5. Carol E. Goodall BScN
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  6. Jennifer L. McGugan BSc
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Maureen F. Markle-Reid.

Additional information

Acknowledgements: The authors thank the Seniors’ PHalls LDCP for their efforts in this project, including Heather Barrington (Windsor-Essex County Health Unit), Susan Bonomo (York Region), Chris Bowes (North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit), Corinne Filer (City of Hamilton), Hélène Gagné (Ontario Neurotrauma Foundation), Amy Mak (Middlesex-London Health Unit), Karen Scott (Kingston, Frontenac, and Lennox & Addington Public Health) and Sarah Orr-Shaw (Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit), as well as the front-line service providers, managers and directors who participated in this study. We also thank Public Health Ontario (PHO) for its support of this project and gratefully acknowledge funding received through the Locally Driven Collaborative Projects program. This research was also undertaken, in part, thanks to funding from the Canada Research Chairs program. The views expressed in the publication are the views of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of Public Health Ontario.

Conflict of Interest: None to declare.

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Markle-Reid, M.F., Dykeman, C.S., Reimer, H.D. et al. Engaging community organizations in falls prevention for older adults: Moving from research to action. Can J Public Health 106, e189–e196 (2015). https://doi.org/10.17269/cjph.106.4776

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.17269/cjph.106.4776

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