A Matter of Balance/lay leader model: Participant outcomes of national dissemination

Background: A Matter of Balance (MOB) is a cognitive-behavioral program designed to reduce the fear of falling and increase the activity level of older adults who fear falling. Participants in the A Matter of Balance/Volunteer Lay Leader Program translation demonstrated improvement in falls efficacy, falls management, falls control, exercise level and decrease in monthly incidence of falls.

Methods: Forty-three Master Trainer organizations from fourteen states participated in the national database as of August 28th, 2008. Participants provide informed consent to participate in the program and program evaluation activities. Participants complete a first-class (pre-test) and last-class (post-test) survey as well as an evaluation of each class they attend. Data are submitted to Senior Services in Seattle, WA for incorporation into a national database.

Results: An analysis of the outcomes from the national dissemination examined whether the outcomes of MOB/VLL continue to show the participant benefits reported in the original study. This study of 1520 participants found significant increases (p<.05) in the seven variables measured in the pre/post survey, including falls control, falls management, falls self-efficacy, increased physical activity, and reduced interference with social activity.

Implications: These findings support the findings of the Healy, et al. study and reinforce the effectiveness of the Volunteer Lay Leader model of delivering the MOB program.