Feasibility and acceptability of orientation and mobility instructors delivering the LiFE falls prevention program to older people with vision impairment.

Keay, Lisa; Saich, Freya; Clemson, Lindy; Middlemiss, Lisa; Johnson, Jacqueline; Tumanik, Haley; Taylor, Jessica; Munro, Joanne; Borkowski, Ewa; Tinsley, Frances

doi:10.21307/ijom-2017-053

Abstract

Older people with vision impairment are at an increased risk of falls. Though exercise-based intervention can reduce falls in the general population, this strategy has not been successful among people with vision impairment. We evaluated the feasibility and acceptability of the LiFE program, a home-based fall prevention program, for people aged over 50 with vision impairment (n=16). The program was successfully delivered by orientation and mobility instructors to clients of Guide Dogs NSW/ACT, a community service organisation. Interviews with study participants showed engagement and adherence and there were positive trends in physical outcome measures supporting this program as a promising approach to enhance strength and balance, ultimately reducing the likelihood of falls in older people with vision impairment.

References

Black, A. A., Wood, J. M., Lovie-Kitchin, J. E., & Newman, B. M. (2008). Visual impairment and postural sway among older adults with glaucoma. Optom Vis Sci., 85(6), 489-497.
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Campbell, A. J., Robertson, M. C., La Grow, S. J., et al. (2005). Randomised controlled trial of prevention of falls in people aged > or =75 with severe visual impairment: The VIP trial. BMJ, 331(7520), 8.
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Clemson, L., Fiatarone Singh, M. A., Bundy, A., et al. (2012). Integration of balance and strength training into daily life activity to reduce rate of falls in older people (the LiFE study): Randomised parallel trial. BMJ, 345:e4547.
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
de Boer, M. R., Pluijm, S. M., Lips, P., et al. (2004). Different aspects of visual impairment as risk factors for falls and fractures in older men and women. J Bone Miner.Res., 19(9), 1539-1547.
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Elo, S., & Kyngas, H. (Apr 2008). The qualitative content analysis process. J Adv Nurs., 62(1), 107-115.
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Gleeson, M., Keay, L., & Sherrington, C. (2014). Exercise and physical training can improve physical functioning in older adults with visual impairments but their effect on falls is unclear: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Aust J Physiotherapy, 60(3), 130-135.
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Gleeson, M., Sherrington, C., Borkowski, E., & Keay, L. (Jan 15, 2013). Improving balance and mobility in people over 50 years of age with vision impairments: Can the Alexander Technique help? A study protocol for the VISIBILITY randomised controlled trial. Inj Prev., 10.1136/injuryprev-2012-040726.
Open DOI Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Gleeson, M., Sherrington, C., Lo, S., & Keay, L. (Jul 15, 2014). Can the Alexander Technique improve balance and mobility in older adults with visual impairments? A randomized controlled trial. Clin Rehabil., 29(3), 244-60.
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Godin, G., & Kok, G. (Nov-Dec 1996). The theory of planned behavior: A review of its applications to health-related behaviors. Am J Health Promot., 11(2), 87-98.
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Guralnik, J. M., Ferrucci, L., Pieper, C. F., et al. (Apr 2000). Lower extremity function and subsequent disability: Consistency across studies, predictive models, and value of gait speed alone compared with the short physical performance battery. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci., 55(4), M221-231.
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Guralnik, J. M., Simonsick, E. M., Ferrucci, L., et al. (1994). A short physical performance battery assessing lower extremity function: Association with self-reported disability and prediction of mortality and nursing home admission. J Gerontol., 49, M85-M94.
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Hsieh, H. F., & Shannon, S. E. (Nov 2005). Three approaches to qualitative content analysis. Qual. Health Res., 15(9), 1277-1288.
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Ivers, R. Q., Cumming, R. G., Mitchell, P., Simpson, J. M., & Peduto, A. J. (2003). Visual risk factors for hip fracture in older people. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, 51(3), 356-363.
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Ivers, R. Q., Norton, R., Cumming, R. G., Butler, M., & Campbell, A. J. (Oct 1 2000). Visual impairment and risk of hip fracture. Am J Epidemiol., 152(7), 633-639.
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Kempen, G. I., Yardley, L., van Haastregt, J. C., et al. (Jan 2008). The Short FES-I: A shortened version of the falls efficacy scale-international to assess fear of falling. Age Ageing, 37(1), 45-50.
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Kulmala, J., Viljanen, A., Sipila, S., et al. (2008). Poor vision accompanied with other sensory impairments as a predictor of falls in older women. Age Ageing, 38(2), 162-167.
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Lally, P., & Gardner, B. (2011). Promoting habit formation. Health Psychol Review. doi: 10.1080/17437199.2011.603640.
Open DOI Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Lamoureux, E., Gadgil, S., Pesudovs, K., et al. (Apr 2010). The relationship between visual function, duration and main causes of vision loss and falls in older people with low vision. Graefes Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol., 248(4), 527-533.
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Leon, A. C., Davis, L. L., & Kraemer, H. C. (May 2011). The role and interpretation of pilot studies in clinical research. J Psychiatr Res., 45(5), 626-629.
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Patino, C. M, McKean-Cowdin, R., Azen, S. P., Allison, J. C., Choudhury, F., & Varma, R. (Dec 21 2009). Central and peripheral visual impairment and the risk of falls and falls with injury. Ophthalmology, 117(2), 199-206.
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Ramulu, P. Y., Maul, E., Hochberg, C., Chan, E. S., Ferrucci, L., & Friedman, D. S. (Jun 2012). Real-world assessment of physical activity in glaucoma using an accelerometer. Ophthalmology, 119(6), 1159-1166.
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Robertson, M. C., Devlin, N., Gardner, M. M., & Campbell, A. J. (Mar 24 2001). Effectiveness and economic evaluation of a nurse delivered home exercise programme to prevent falls 1: Randomised controlled trial. BMJ., 322(7288), 697-701.
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Sayers, S. P., Jette, A. M., Haley, S. M., Heeren, T. C., Guralnik, J. M., & Fielding, R. A. (Sep 2004). Validation of the Late-Life Function and Disability Instrument. J Am Geriatr Soc., 52(9), 1554-1559.
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Sherrington, C., Tiedemann, A., Fairhall, N., Close, J. C., & Lord, S. R. (2011). Exercise to prevent falls in older adults: An updated meta-analysis and best practice recommendations. NSW Public Health Bulletin, 22(3-4), 78-83.
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Taylor, H. R., Keeffe, J. E., Vu, H. T., et al. (2005). Vision loss in Australia. Med J Aust., 182(11), 565-568.
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Tinetti, M. E., Speechley, M., & Ginter S. F. (1988). Risk factors for falls among elderly persons living in the community. N Engl J Med., 319(26), 1701-1707.
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Tinetti, M. F., & Williams, C. S. (1998). The effect of falls and fall injuries on functioning in community dwelling older persons. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci., 53(1079-5006 Print), 112-119.
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Yardley, L., Bishop, F. L., Beyer, N., et al. (2006). Older people’s views of falls-prevention interventions in six European countries. Gerontologist, 46(5), 650-660.
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Yardley, L., Dennison, L., Coker, R., et al. (Apr 2010). Patients’ views of receiving lessons in the Alexander technique and an exercise prescription for managing back pain in the ATEAM trial. Fam Pract., 27(2), 198-204.
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Yardley, L., Donovan-Hall, M., Francis, K., & Todd, C. (Mar 2007). Attitudes and beliefs that predict older people’s intention to undertake strength and balance training. J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci., 62(2), P119-125.
Search in Google Scholar Back to article

Feasibility and acceptability of orientation and mobility instructors delivering the LiFE falls prevention program to older people with vision impairment.

Abstract

Paradigm

My account