Economic evaluation of a community based exercise programme to prevent falls

Abstract

Objective - To assess the incremental costs and cost effectiveness of implementing a home based muscle strengthening and balance retraining programme that reduced falls and injuries in older women. Design - An economic evaluation carried out within a randomised controlled trial with two years of follow up. Participants were individually prescribed an exercise programme (exercise group, n=116) or received usual care and social visits (control group, n=117). Setting - 17 general practices in Dunedin, New Zealand. Participants - Women aged 80 years and older living in the community and invited by their general practitioner to take part. Main outcome measures - Number of falls and injuries relat..