EFFECT OF A MULTIFACTORIAL PROGRAM IN FALL RISK OF ELDERLY

Abstract

Pedro Passarinha, Rui Brás, e Kelly O’Hara

Falls in the elderly are a public health issue with consequences in the quality of life. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of a multifactorial program in fall risk, fear of falling and environmental hazards. Thirty community-dwelling elderly were divided in two groups. The experimental group (EG), for 16 weeks, was subjected to an exercise intervention and an educational approach. The fall risk was evaluated by Performance-Oriented Mobility Assessment scale (POMA), the fear of falling by Falls Efficacy Scale (FES) and the environmental hazards by an adapted Hazards List. In the EG there was a significant increase of the results by the POMA scale (p = .000) and FES (p = .009). The results shown a decrease of environmental hazards in both groups, with greater practical significance in the EG (d = 1.14). The application of this program resulted in the decrease of the fall risk, fear of falling and environmental hazards.