This cochrane review from 2012 is an updated review of effective interventions based on RCT studies for reducing falls in older people in care facilities and hospitals, first published in 2010.
The review included 60 randomised trials (60,345 participants); 43 trials (30,373 participants) in care facilities and 17 trials (29,972 participants) in hospitals.
Search Methods
- Cochrane Bone
- Joint and Muscle Trauma Group Specialised Register (March 2012)
- CENTRAL (The Cochrane Library 2012, Issue 3)
- MEDLINE (1946 to March 2012)
- EMBASE (1947 to March 2012)
- CINAHL (1982 to February 2012)
- ongoing trial registers (to August 2012)
- reference lists of articles
Authors conclude that 13 trials were inconsistent. Overall, vitamin D supplementation in care facilities is effective in reducing the rate of falls. Exercise in subacute hosiptal settings appears effective but its effectiveness in care facilities remains uncertain due to conflicting results, possibly associated with differeces in interventions and levels of dependency. There is evidence that multifactorial interventions reduce falls in hospital but the evidence for risk of falling was inconclusive. Evidence for multifactorial interventions in care facilities suggests possible benefits, but this was inconclusive. You can read the abstract and full text paper on the pubmed website.
[profound_approved]
