The effectiveness of the Healthworks Staying Steady community-based falls prevention exercise programme to improve physical function in older adults: a 6-year service evaluation

JAMES, Emily, OMAN, Paul, ALI, Michael, COURT, Paul, GOODALL, Stuart, NICHOLS, Simon and O’DOHERTY, Alasdair F. (2022). The effectiveness of the Healthworks Staying Steady community-based falls prevention exercise programme to improve physical function in older adults: a 6-year service evaluation. BMC Public Health, 22 (1): 1457.

[img]
Preview
PDF
12889_2022_Article_13832.pdf - Published Version
Creative Commons Attribution.

Download (1MB) | Preview
[img]
Preview
PDF
Nichols-EffectivenessHealthworksStaying(Supp1).pdf - Supplemental Material
Creative Commons Attribution.

Download (217kB) | Preview
Official URL: https://bmcpublichealth.biomedcentral.com/articles...
Open Access URL: https://bmcpublichealth.biomedcentral.com/track/pd... (Published version)
Link to published version:: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-022-13832-3

Abstract

Abstract: Background: Falls prevention exercise programmes are evidence-based and recommended for improving physical function in older adults. However, few service evaluations exist to assess the effectiveness of community-delivered interventions in practice. Methods: We conducted a six-year, retrospective evaluation of the community-delivered Staying Steady programme (Healthworks, United Kingdom). Staying Steady is a 27-week, tailored strength and balance programme delivered in a group setting (1-h, once/week) and at home (30–40 min, 2–3 times/week). Participants were referred by healthcare professionals, or self-referred, due to a history or risk of falling. Routinely collected outcome measures (30-s chair stand, Timed Up and Go, four-stage balance test, and patient reported outcomes; including ‘fear of falling’ and ‘ability to manage health’) were analysed. Factors associated with programme completion were reported. The intervention effect on physical function was analysed in subgroups: participants used arms to chair-stand or a walking-aid at both (‘aided’), neither (‘unaided’), or one assessment timepoint (‘aided at baseline only’ or ‘aided at follow-up only’). Results: There were 1,426 referrals; 835 (67.3%) participants enrolled on to the Staying Steady programme, 406 (32.7%) declined, 185 (13.0%) were inappropriately referred and excluded from analysis. After enrolling, 451 (54.0%) participants completed, and 384 (46.0%) dropped out. Chair stand performance improved in participants who were unaided (n = 264; median 2.0 [1.0, 4.0] repetitions; P < 0.001), or aided at baseline, follow-up or both (n = 170, P < 0.05). Timed Up and Go performance improved in the unaided (n = 387; median ˗3.1 [˗5.4, ˗1.4] s, P < 0.001), and aided at baseline only (n = 32; median ˗4.9 [˗10.8, ˗3.4] s, P < 0.001) groups. Four-stage balance performance improved (n = 295; median 1.0 [0.0, 1.0] points, P < 0.001). After programme completion, participants self-reported an improved ability to manage their health and daily activities, improved confidence, and a reduced fear of falling. Presence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, fear of falling, prescribed nutritional support, disability and social deprivation influenced non-completion of Staying Steady. Conclusions: Completing Staying Steady improved physical function in older adults. Methods to encourage retention of participants from groups associated with low uptake and adherence should be investigated.

Item Type: Article
Additional Information: ** From Springer Nature via Jisc Publications Router ** Licence for this article: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ **Journal IDs: eissn 1471-2458 **Article IDs: publisher-id: s12889-022-13832-3; manuscript: 13832 **History: collection 12-2022; online 01-08-2022; published 01-08-2022; registration 20-07-2022; accepted 19-07-2022; submitted 11-02-2022
Uncontrolled Keywords: Research, Healthcare, Health inequality, Service evaluation, Falls, Exercise, Strength, Balance
Identification Number: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-022-13832-3
SWORD Depositor: Colin Knott
Depositing User: Colin Knott
Date Deposited: 01 Aug 2022 16:30
Last Modified: 12 Oct 2023 10:47
URI: https://shura.shu.ac.uk/id/eprint/30546

Actions (login required)

View Item View Item

Downloads

Downloads per month over past year

View more statistics