Mismatch between risk factors and preventive interventions? A register study of fall prevention among older people in one Swedish county.

BACKGROUND: Falls are a common and often a devastating health hazard for older people, causing suffering, morbidity and mortality. Falls are costly for society in terms of both resources and direct medical costs. Although knowledge about falls and fall prevention is well known, falls among older people are still a major problem.

AIM AND OBJECTIVES: The aim was to estimate the prevalence of the risk of falls among older people receiving municipal health care. A further aim was to investigate the consistency between fall risk factors and preventive nursing interventions.

DESIGN: A cross-sectional register study.

METHODS: Data containing risk assessments based on the Downton Fall Risk Index (DFRI) and planned interventions by the municipal health care were collected from the Swedish national quality registry, Senior Alert. Data were analysed using descriptive and analytic statistics.

RESULTS: In the sample of 5,427 older people, the prevalence of the risk of falling was 79%. There was a difference in prevalence between the different types of municipal health care, sex and age. The most common preventive intervention was environment adjustments, and the least planned intervention was information/education about falls. Physical activity as an intervention was planned among 13.2% of the participants. Approximately 27% of the older people did not have any planned interventions despite being at risk of falling. Planned interventions did not always correspond with the risk factors; for instance, only 35.4% of those at risk of falling due to medication obtained pharmaceutical reviews as a preventive measure to decrease the risk.

CONCLUSION: The risk of falling is common among older people, and the preventive interventions do not sufficiently follow current evidence. This implies that systematic implementation of fall-prevention guidelines is needed in municipal care.

IMPLICATION FOR PRACTICE: A better match between identified risk factors and preventive interventions is warranted.