Key Factors Influencing Implementation of Falls Prevention Exercise Programs in the Community
in Journal of Aging and Physical ActivityClick name to view affiliation
The study aim was to evaluate the implementation of group- and home-based exercise falls prevention programs delivered through community health agencies to community-dwelling older people. Interviews with program staff were guided by the Diffusion of Innovations theory. Highly consistent themes emerged for the two types of programs. Both had high overall compatibility, high relative advantage, good observability and high inherent trialability—all factors known to strengthen implementation. The level of complexity and low financial compatibility emerged as the strongest potential inhibitors to program implementation in the context examined. The two main factors contributing to complexity were the need to challenge balance safely across a broad range of capability, and practical considerations associated with program delivery.A range of strategies to provide more technical support for exercise program leaders to tailor balance challenge for exercise program leaders may enhance implementation of falls prevention exercise programs.
Day and Trotter are with the Falls Prevention Research Unit, Monash Injury Research Institute, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia. Donaldson and Finch are with the Australian Centre for Research into Injury in Sport and its Prevention, Federation University, Ballarat, Australia. Hill is with the School of Physiotherapy and Exercise Science, Curtin University, Bentley, Australia.
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