Effectiveness and economic evaluation of a nurse delivered home exercise programme to prevent falls. 2: Controlled trial in multiple centres

Abstract

Objectives: To assess the effectiveness of trained nurses based in general practices individually prescribing a home exercise programme to reduce falls and injuries in elderly people and to estimate the cost effectiveness of the programme. Design: Controlled trial with one year's follow up. Setting: 32 general practices in seven southern New Zealand centres. Participants: 450 women and men aged 80 years and older. Intervention: 330 participants received the exercise programme (exercise centres) and 120 received usual care (control centres); 87% (371 of 426) completed the trial. Main outcome measures: Number of falls, number of injuries resulting from falls, costs of implementing the programm..