This review is a pragmatic attempt to highlight recent research and background material in falls. It should not be considered exhaustive, simply a way of reviewing some of the major developments and current thinking in the area.
Click here to see all the TRIP Evidence Reviews.
Evidence-Based Reports- Do home modifications reduce the incidence of falls at home in older adults? Occupational Therapy CATs, 2004
- What is the evidence that a multifactorial falls assessment and management plan is more effective in reducing the number of falls in older adults than any other falls prevention intervention? Occupational Therapy CATs, 2004
- A multifactorial intervention reduced the mean number of falls but not the proportion who fell in older people with recurrent falls. Evidence-Based Nursing (Requires free registration). 2005
- Review: prophylactic use of vitamin D reduces falls in older persons. Evidence-Based Medicine (Requires free registration). 2005
Clinical Guidelines
- Prevention of falls and fall injuries in the older adult. Registered Nurses Association of Ontario, 2005
- Prevention of falls in long-term care facilities. Canadian Task Force on Preventive Health Care, 2005
- Fall management guideline. Best Practice Committee of the Health Care Association of New Jersey, 2006
- Falls: The assessment and prevention of falls in older people. NICE, 2004
Systematic reviews
- A meta-analysis of exercise programmes for preventing falls in older people. DARE, 2005
- Population-based interventions for the prevention of fall-related injuries in older people. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2004
- Interventions for preventing falls in elderly people. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2003
Recent articles in core journals
- A higher dose of vitamin d reduces the risk of falls in nursing home residents: a randomized, multiple-dose study. J Am Geriatr Soc, 2007 View article OR Can you answer this related question for extra CPD?
- Improving vision to prevent falls in frail older people: a randomized trial. J Am Geriatr Soc, 2007
- Multifactorial and functional mobility assessment tools for fall risk among older adults in community, home-support, long-term and acute care settings. Age Ageing, 2007
- Strategies to prevent falls and fractures in hospitals and care homes and effect of cognitive impairment: systematic review and meta-analyses. BMJ, 2007
- Will my patient fall? JAMA, 2007
- Randomised controlled trial of prevention of falls in people aged > or =75 with severe visual impairment: the VIP trial. BMJ, 2005
- Prevention of falls and consequent injuries in elderly people. Lancet, 2005
- Prevention of Falls in Older Patients. American Family Physician, 2005
- Falls in the Elderly. American Family Physician, 2000
- The prognosis of falls in elderly people living at home. Age Ageing, 1999
eTextbooks
Clinical Queries
- Which is the best standardised assessment to measure fear of falling in older people who have fallen? NLH Q&A Service, 2007
- Is occupational therapy intervention effective in reducing falls in elderly people who have fallen? NLH Q&A Service, 2007
- What is the evidence that hip protectors prevent falls in elderly people? NLH Q&A Service, 2005 View answer OR Can you answer this question for extra CPD?
- What is the most effective intervention to reduce fear of falling in older people who have fallen? NLH Q&A Service, 2006 View answer OR Can you answer this question for extra CPD?
Patient Information
