The long-term effect of an m-health tool on self-care in patients with heart failure: a pre-post interventional study with a mixed-method analysis.

AIMS: The aims of this study were (i) to evaluate the effects of using an m-health tool on self-care behaviour at 3 and 12 months and (ii) to explore the experiences and perceptions of heart failure (HF) patients about the m-health tool. METHODS AND RESULTS: In this pre-post interventional study with a mixed-method analysis, 71 patients diagnosed with HF [49% female, mean age 76.7 years, New York Heart Association (NYHA) II 31%, NYHA III 69%] were enrolled and had the m-health tool installed in their home for 1 year. The tool consisted of a pre-programmed tablet including a weighing scale and interactive education about HF self-care. At baseline, and at 3 and 12 months, self-care was assessed using the European Heart Failure Self-care Behaviour (EHFScB-9) Scale, an eight-item self-administered questionnaire assessing the experiences of the m-health tool. The mean EHFScB-9 at baseline was 63.8 ± 2.8 and it improved to 67.6 ± 7.6 after 3 months (P < 0.05). After 1 year, the score had decreased to 63.2 ± 7.1 (P = 0.68). Most patients rated the tool as 'good', both at 3 months (92%) and after 12 months (93%). Some found the system to be unnecessary to some degree, and this number increased between 3 and 12 months (P < 0.001). Most patients felt that m-health increased their feelings of security, and 85% responded that the system increased their family members' sense of security. CONCLUSION: The m-health tool significantly improved patients' self-care behaviour after 3 months, but this effect did not persist after 1 year. For achieving long-term effects and outcomes, additional and regularly updated self-care support may be needed. REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT04955600.

Involvement of Older Adults, the Golden Resources, as a Primary Measure for Fall Prevention.

Falls remain the second leading cause of injury-related deaths worldwide; therefore, longstanding practical fall-prevention efforts are needed. Falls can also lead to a reduction in independence and quality of life among older adults. Fall-prevention research has found that early prevention promotes a prolonged independence. However, it remains unknown which intervention is most beneficial for early prevention and how these interventions should be implemented for long-term effects. In addition, the present and future burden on social and healthcare services contributes to a gap in needs and requires an evidence-based fall prevention. Research suggests that strength, balance, and functional training are effective in reducing falls and fall-related injuries. Such training could greatly impacting independence. Fear of falling and strategies for managing falls are the suggested components to be included when evaluating fall-prevention programs. Thus, the preservation of physical functions is highly relevant for both independence and quality of life. It also contributes to psychological and social well-being, which are important factors for enabling individuals to stay at home for as long as possible. To meet future challenges associated with the expected increase in the older population, older adults should be viewed as a golden resource. With assistance from professionals and researchers, they can learn and gain the ability to institute fall-prevention programs in their own environments. These environments are primarily beyond the responsibilities of the healthcare sector. Therefore, programs comprising current knowledge about fall prevention should be developed, evaluated, and implemented with older adults by using a "train-The-trainer" approach, where a natural collaboration is established between civil society and/or volunteers, healthcare professionals, and researchers. For sustainable and effective fall-prevention programs, a co-design and early collaborative approach should be used in the natural environment, before social and healthcare services are required.

Implementation of Telemonitoring in Health Care: Facilitators and Barriers for Using eHealth for Older Adults with Chronic Conditions.

Purpose: The retrospective study used a hybrid design aimed to a) describe the implementation process of telemonitoring from stakeholders' perspectives and b) identify facilitators and barriers perceived by the care team. Patients and Methods: Qualitative interview data were analyzed using manifest inductive qualitative content analysis to describe what was perceived as barriers and what facilitated the implementation. Participating healthcare professionals recruited from a multi-professional care team in Sweden. Overall, 14 healthcare professionals comprising 8 assistant nurses, 3 nurses, 1 physiotherapist, 1 occupational therapist, and one general practitioner participated in five interviews. Results: Four categories were derived from the interview analysis: previous experience with digital technology, the need for preparation before implementation, perceptions of using telemonitoring in daily practice from the patient's perspective, and perceptions of the relevance and reasons for applying telemonitoring from the care team's perspective. The identification of stakeholders and the need to plan carefully when proposing the introduction of telemonitoring systems into work practices are both crucial. Conclusion: The attitudes of healthcare professionals can be a significant factor in the acceptance and efficiency of the use of telemonitoring in practice. Therefore, implementing new technology in healthcare should involve healthcare professionals at an early stage to gain common understanding.

Movement toward an evidence-Based, digital fall prevention future-Perceptions from a physiotherapy perspective.

BACKGROUND: Physiotherapy plays an important role in fall prevention, and is a science- and evidence-based profession that is constantly undergoing development. Currently, the possibility of digital fall prevention is being explored; however, the perception of physiotherapists (PTs) toward a digital approach is still a sparsely investigated topic. PURPOSE: This study aimed to explore the PT's experiences with a fall prevention exercise program used in their daily work and their thoughts regarding the use of digital support in this context. METHODS: Discussions were held in two focus groups with seven PTs (age: 26-48 years). A qualitative content analysis was performed. RESULTS: We identified two main categories: 1) The importance of evidence-based fall prevention exercise; and 2) Transition toward a digital fall prevention exercise approach. The participants expressed that they had time- and resource-related limitations affecting evidence-based work and adherence to fall prevention exercise programs. They stated that education and management support were required. CONCLUSION: There is a need for fall prevention exercise to be evidence-based and prioritized in physiotherapy. The study results provide insights into the lack of adherence to fall prevention exercise programs and highlighted the need for a transition toward working digitally in the future.

Short Multicomponent Group Exercise Intervention Promotes Long-Term Physical Activity Habits among Community-Dwelling Older Adults during COVID-19 Restrictions: A Cohort Study.

This study investigated whether strength, balance, body mass index, falls self-efficacy, activity levels, self-rated health, and participation in a multicomponent exercise intervention could predict physical activity levels after 5 months of self-quarantine due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This study included baseline data of 200 community-dwelling older adults (79% women, 21% men) with a mean age of 72 years who participated in a randomized controlled trial investigating a multicomponent exercise program, with 7-month follow-up survey data of their physical activity levels. The results showed significant associations with the activity levels at the 7-month follow-up. The activity levels (odds ratio (OR): 2.83, 95% CI: 1.20-6.71), the self-rated health score (2.80, 1.42-5.53), and being allocated to a specific multicomponent group-based exercise program (2.04, 1.04-4.00) showed a significant association with the activity habits at the 7-month follow-up. As this study suggests, besides the physical activity levels and the self-rated health score, participation in a high challenge multicomponent exercise program was significantly associated with physical activity levels at the 7-month follow-up. This study indicates that a relatively short multicomponent group exercise program (6-9 weeks) can motivate individuals to sustain their own training and activity levels even several months after the program has been paused or terminated. Identifying older adults' physical activity levels and self-rated health scores and prescribing multicomponent group-based exercise programs to promote sustained physical activity habits may be a successful alternative to provide for older adults in the future.

High Challenge Exercise and Learning Safe Landing Strategies among Community-Dwelling Older Adults: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

There is limited research on optimal exercise programs that effectively decrease falls and fall-related injuries in older populations. This randomized controlled trial (RCT) aimed to explore the effects of a 12-week Judo4Balance program on falling techniques, physical and psychological functions, health status, and physical activity levels among 200 community-dwelling older adults (79% women and 21% men) with a mean age of 72 years. The 200 participants were randomly allocated for the Judo4Balce program (n = 100) or control group (n = 100). The RCT intervention started in mid-January 2020 and was abruptly interrupted because of the COVID-19 pandemic. A restart of the RCT was initiated in September 2021, and the 12-week intervention was offered to two groups. This study reports the results from three points of assessment: baseline, 20-month follow-up, and 12-week postintervention. At 20 months follow-up, the control group had significantly decreased physical activity levels (summer p = 0.002 and winter p = 0.003); similar changes were not seen in the exercise group. In the exercise group, learning falling techniques in 6−9 weeks led to sustained fall competence at 20 months follow-up. Further, significant improvements in physical function (exercise group p = 0.009 and control group p < 0.001) and learning falling techniques (p < 0.001 for both groups) were noted in both groups after the 12-week intervention. This effective, supervised, group-based, high-challenge multicomponent exercise program needs to be further evaluated for possible impact on falls and fall-related injuries.

App-based strength and balance self-test in older adults: an exploratory study from a user perspective.

OBJECTIVES: Falls are a common problem, especially in the older population. The number of older adults aged over 65 years is increasing globally, leading to a major challenge in providing effective fall prevention interventions to older adults requiring such interventions. This study aimed to explore the usability of an app-based strength and balance self-tests in a small sample of four older adults. This study is a side product of another project. RESULTS: The results from this study indicated that self-test of strength and balance by using a smartphone application is a challenge for older adults. Basic test measures, such as start and stop and counts of sit-to-stand, were difficult to self-administer. However, from a user perspective, the possibility of independently performing these measures was considered important and needed to be further developed and evaluated in future studies.

Preventing Falls and Malnutrition among Older Adults in Municipal Residential Care in Sweden: A Registry Study.

INTRODUCTION: Older adults in municipal residential care are among the most vulnerable and in need of most care. The prevalence of negative events, such as falls and malnutrition, is increased among these older adults. The need for strategies to prevent falls and malnutrition is emphasized in guidelines and systematic, individualized risk assessments are prerequisites for adequate interventions. OBJECTIVES: The overall purpose of this study was to investigate the assessed risks of, and risk factors for, falling and malnutrition and the correlations between these assessed risks among older women and men in residential care. Further, the purpose was to investigate the consistency between planned and performed interventions among women and men assessed as at risk. METHODS: A cross-sectional registry study based on risk assessment data in the Swedish national quality registry, Senior Alert. Altogether, 5,919 older adults ≥65 in nursing homes and dementia care units in 19 municipalities in Sweden were included. RESULTS: Of the older adults, 77% were at risk of falls, and 59% were at risk of malnutrition. The most prevalent risk factors for falls were previous falls and not being cognitively oriented; and for malnutrition were having mild or severe dementia or depression. A significant positive correlation between the risk of falling and the risk of malnutrition was found. Less than half of the planned interventions for falls and malnutrition were performed. Care staff's least common interventions to prevent falls were balance, muscular function, and strength training, which contrasts with the recommendations; interventions to prevent malnutrition were only partially adhering to recommendations. CONCLUSIONS: This cross-sectional registry study points towards the importance of using an evidence-based approach, based on adherence to recommended guidelines, in the prevention of falling and malnutrition. Further, the implementation of clinical practice guidelines is needed, which requires educational training for care staff and supportive leadership.

A 10-week judo-based exercise programme improves physical functions such as balance, strength and falling techniques in working age adults.

BACKGROUND: Falls and fall-related injuries are major threats not only for older adults but also for younger age groups such as working-age adults. It has been shown that it is possible to reduce the risk of falls and fall-related injuries, to some extent. However, interventions aiming at reducing both the risk of falls and mitigating fall-related injuries through teaching safe falling techniques are still sparsely investigated. The aim with this study was to investigate the effect of a 10-week workplace-based judo inspired exercise programme (Judo4Balance). The measures in the study include physical functions, fall-related self-efficacy and safe falling techniques. METHODS: A total of 142 working-age adults participated in this non-randomised controlled study. The participants were allocated to the Judo4Balance group (n = 79), or to a waiting list control group (n = 63). The mean age was 47 years (18-68). The recruitment period was from May 2018 to October 2019. A total of 128 participants were included in the analysis. Logistic Regression models were used to analyse the outcomes: physical function, balance and fall-related self-efficacy as well as falling techniques (backwards and forwards). RESULTS: At the 10-week follow-up, the results displayed significant differences between the two groups in all measurements, except for the fall-related self-efficacy with OR = 1.8. Techniques for falling forwards and backwards displayed the highest OR = 124.1 and OR = 98.9. Physical function and balance showed OR = 3.3 and OR = 6.4. CONCLUSIONS: This exercise programme under study displayed significant differences in strength, balance and safe falling techniques between the groups. It is suggested that these functions, which were studied here, can effectively be trained in working-age adults by using the Judo4Balace exercise programme. Thus, it may be beneficial to further investigate and include training in proper falling techniques when designing fall prevention exercise programmes. Furthermore, it may be a novel way of addressing fall-related injuries, which are of utmost importance to prevent in near future. TRIAL REGISTRATION: NCT04294342 . Registered 4 March 2020 - The Impact of Specifically Adapted Judo-based Training Program on Risk Factors for Falls Among Adults - Full Text View - ClinicalTrials.gov.

Older adults' experiences with mHealth for fall prevention exercise: usability and promotion of behavior change strategies.

Background: With the rapidly growing aging population, older adults need to stay healthy and active for a longer time. Mobile health (mHealth) solutions could help support, prevent, or delay functional decline and falls in old age.Purpose: The aim was to explore older persons' experiences of a mobile application for fall prevention exercise, and to identify what possible behavior change techniques to include in the further development of the application.Methods: Two focus groups were conducted with 12 older adults (seven women and five men) 70 to 83 years of age. A qualitative content analysis was performed.Results: Two main results emerged: 1) external facilitators for using the application; and 2) internal facilitators for using the application and perceived gains, in addition 10 behavior change techniques were identified.Conclusion: With support, an application could be adapted for older adults to manage, motivate, and adhere to fall prevention exercise. To achieve long-term adherence to health behavior changes, behavior change strategies and techniques are recommended to be included in further development of the fallprevention application.

Feasibility of a novel Judo4Balance - fall preventive exercise programme targeting community-dwelling older adults.

OBJECTIVES: It is of utmost importance to investigate risk factors for falls and learning techniques for falling safely. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess the feasibility of a novel judo-inspired exercise intervention for community-dwelling older adults. METHODS: We included 28 participants, 60-88 years of age, in this study. In three different settings, the feasibility of carrying out a full-scale study was evaluated by the following: the study process, resource management and scientific aspects. The outcome measures evaluated were physical performance, fall related self-efficacy and fall techniques (backwards and forwards) among the older adults. RESULTS: The intervention was judged to be feasible in the different settings used in this study. Some changes regarding duration of the intervention were suggested as being important. Significant improvements were seen in the selected outcome measures, physical performance (p=.030) and fall techniques (p=<.001). A corresponding difference was not found for fall related self- efficacy (p=.113). CONCLUSIONS: This study confirms the judo inspired exercise programme, Judo4Balance, to be a feasible intervention for active older adults. This study will provide a safe and thoroughly planned protocol for the planned study and provides indication of appropriate setting depending on the target group.

Health promotion and prevention: The impact of specifically adapted judo-inspired training program on risk factors for falls among adults.

Globally, falls and fall-related injuries constitute a severe threat to public health at all ages. New approaches are warranted since existing knowledge and actions have failed to reduce the incidence of falls and fall-related injuries, both at work and during leisure time. The purpose of this quasi-experimental study was to investigate the impact of a 10-week supervised judo-inspired exercise program, Judo4Balance, provided in a workplace setting among men and women targeting: physical functions, activity level, fall-related self-efficacy, and techniques for safe landing when falling. A total of 79 adults from seven different workplaces in Sweden, mean age 45 years (18-68), participated in the program. The study was conducted from May 2018 to June 2019. The 10-week exercise program performed in a workplace setting improved physical and psychological functions, as well as techniques for falling safely, factors of great importance to prevent falls and fall-related injuries among men and women. Therefore, it is suggested that the judo-inspired exercise program may be an effective tool in the quest to promote health and prevention of risk factors for falls and fall-related injuries among those of working age.

Fall Prevention Exercises With or Without Behavior Change Support for Community-Dwelling Older Adults: A Two-Year Follow-Up of a Randomized Controlled Trial.

This study investigates the effectiveness of two fall prevention exercise interventions targeting physical performance, activity level, fall-related self-efficacy, health-related quality of life, and falls: the Otago Exercise Programme (OEP) with and the OEP without behavior change support. In this randomized controlled trial (RCT), 175 participants were randomised into two intervention groups and one control group. A total of 124 community-dwelling older adults over the age of 75 who needed walking aids or home support participated in the two-year follow-up. The OEP with and the OEP without support for behavior change displayed no long-term benefits on physical performance, fall-related self-efficacy, health-related quality of life, and falls compared to a control group. Although no significant differences were detected between the groups, the results implied the control group's physical activity level decreased compared to the intervention groups at two-year follow up.

Implementation of motivational interviewing in a fall prevention exercise program: experiences from a randomized controlled trial.

OBJECTIVE: The elderly population over 65 is increasing globally, and interventions promoting health and preventive work, especially fall prevention, will constitute a large part of physiotherapists' duties in the near future. To address the challenges of promoting effective and sustainable health behavior changes among older persons, physiotherapists need support when it comes to how to apply behavior change strategies, especially in fall prevention. Therefore, the aim of this study was to describe implementation of motivational interviewing in a fall prevention exercise program. This study is a side product of another project. RESULTS: Data from a recently performed three-armed randomized controlled trial were used to describe the implementation of motivational interviewing in the exercise group (n = 58). Level of motivation (priorities) and self-efficacy for both the physiotherapist and the participant in treatment, and to use a guide targeted towards the planned treatment are recommended actions. Regular meetings and follow ups as well as updates of motivational interviewing skills during a treatment period, should also be considered to achieve treatment fidelity. Trial registration NCT01778972, Retrospectively registered January 29, 2013.

Impact of the fall prevention Otago Exercise Programme on pain among community-dwelling older adults: a short- and long-term follow-up study.

Background: Pain is a major public health issue among community-dwelling older adults, with a prevalence of 45-80%. In addition to being strongly associated with reduced physical function, loss of independence, psychological distress, lower quality of life, and risk of earlier death. Recent research has also found that pain in older adults is associated with a higher risk of falls, which itself is another major health concern. Long-term and high-intensity pain are predictors of chronic pain and pain-related disability. Therefore, establishing an evidence-based intervention that can reduce both pain and falls in older adults is of high importance. Purpose: This study aimed to investigate whether a home-based fall-preventive exercise-program can reduce pain in the target population over both the short and long term. Patients and methods: This was a quasi-experimental study with a 1-group pretest-posttest design. We included 119 participants who had participated in a recent 2-year fall prevention intervention in a randomized controlled trial. The intervention included exercises based on the Otago Exercise Programme (OEP), an individually tailored and prescribed program that involves home-based exercises supervised by a physiotherapist. Pain was measured using an item from the EuroQol-5D questionnaire. Results: Pain was significantly reduced from baseline (n=119) at 3 (n=105, p=0.003), 12 (n=96, p=0.041), and 24 (n=80, p=0.028) months following the commencement of OEP-based exercises. Conclusions: These results indicate that the OEP could be a suitable evidence-based program for both pain management and fall prevention among community-dwelling older people who live with pain and are at a higher risk of falling. Our study highlights an effective technique for better pain management and fall prevention in older adults.

Fall Preventive Exercise With or Without Behavior Change Support for Community-Dwelling Older Adults: A Randomized Controlled Trial With Short-Term Follow-up.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: In Western countries, falls and fall-related injuries are a well-known threat to health in the aging population. Studies indicate that regular exercise improves strength and balance and can therefore decrease the incidence of falls and fall-related injuries. The challenge, however, is to provide exercise programs that are safe, effective, and attractive to the older population. The aim of this study was to investigate the short-term effect of a home-based exercise program with or without motivational interviewing (MI) compared with standard care on physical performance, fall self-efficacy, balance, activity level, handgrip strength, adherence to the exercise, and fall frequency. METHOD: A total of 175 older adults participated in this randomized controlled study. They were randomly allocated for the Otago Exercise Program (OEP) (n = 61), OEP combined with MI (n = 58), or a control group (n = 56). The participants' mean age was 83 years. The recruitment period was from October 2012 to May 2015. Measurements of physical performance, fall self-efficacy, balance, activity level, handgrip strength, adherence to the exercise, and fall frequency were done before and 12 weeks after randomization. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: A total of 161 participants were followed up, and there were no significant differences between groups after a period of 12 weeks of regular exercise. Within the OEP + MI group, physical performance, fall self-efficacy, physical activity level, and handgrip strength improved significantly; likewise, improved physical performance and fall self-efficacy were found in the control group. A corresponding difference did not occur in the OEP group. Adherence to the exercise was generally high in both exercise groups. CONCLUSION: In the short-term perspective, there were no benefits of an exercise program with or without MI regarding physical performance, fall self-efficacy, activity level, handgrip strength, adherence to the exercise, and fall frequency in comparison to a control group. However, some small effects occurred within the OEP + MI group, indicating that there may be some possible value in behavioral change support combined with exercise in older adults that requires further evaluation in both short- and long-term studies.

One-Year Adherence to the Otago Exercise Program With or Without Motivational Interviewing in Community-Dwelling Older Adults.

This study investigated if behavioral factors, treatment with behavioral support, readiness to change, fall self-efficacy, and activity habits could predict long-term adherence to an exercise program. Included in this study were 114 community-dwelling older adults who had participated in one of two home-based exercise interventions. Behavioral factors associated with adherence to the exercise program over 52 weeks were analyzed. The behavioral factors, specifically activity habits at baseline, significantly predicted adherence to the exercise program, with an odds ratio = 3.39, 95% confidence interval [1.38, 8.32], for exercise and an odds ratio = 6.11, 95% confidence interval [2.34, 15.94], for walks. Being allocated to a specific treatment including motivational interviewing was also significantly predictive: odds ratio = 2.47, 95% confidence interval [1.11, 5.49] for exercise adherence. In conclusion, activity habits and exercise in combination with motivational interviewing had a significant association with adherence to the exercise program at a 1-year follow-up.

Older persons' experiences of a home-based exercise program with behavioral change support.

BACKGROUND: It is a challenge to promote exercise among older persons. Knowledge is needed regarding the maintenance of exercise aiming at preventing falls and promoting health and well-being in older persons. PURPOSE: This descriptive study used a qualitative inductive approach to describe older persons' experiences of a fall-preventive, home-based exercise program with support for behavioral change. METHODS: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 12 elderly persons aged 75 years or older, and a qualitative content analysis was performed. RESULTS: Four categories emerged: facilitators of performing exercise in everyday life, the importance of support, perceived gains from exercise, and the existential aspects of exercise. CONCLUSION: With support from physiotherapists (PTs), home-based exercise can be adapted to individual circumstances in a meaningful way. Including exercises in everyday life and daily routines could support the experience of being stronger, result in better physical functioning, and give hope for an extended active life in old age.

A feasibility study of a randomised controlled trial comparing fall prevention using exercise with or without the support of motivational interviewing.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this investigation was to study the feasibility of a randomised controlled trial (RCT) based on a multicentre fall prevention intervention including exercise with or without motivational interviewing compared to standard care in community-living people 75 years and older. METHOD: The feasibility of a three-armed, randomised controlled trial was evaluated according to the following: process, resources, management by questionnaire, and treatment outcomes. The outcome measures were fall frequency, physical performance and falls self-efficacy evaluated after three months. Twelve physiotherapists conducted the measurements and treatments and responded to the questionnaire. The first 45 participants recruited to the ongoing RCT were included: 16 individuals in the Otago Exercise Program group (OEP), 16 individuals in the OEP combined with motivational interviewing group (MI), and 13 individuals in the control group. The study was conducted from November 2012 to December 2013. RESULTS: The feasibility of the study process, resources and management reached the set goals in most aspects; however, the set goal regarding the MI guide and planned exercise for the participating older people was not completely reached. No significant differences were found between the groups regarding the outcome measures. CONCLUSION: This study confirmed the acceptable feasibility for the study protocol in the ongoing RCT.