Characteristics and benefits for older women in an evidence-based falls prevention program

Health promotion programs disproportionately serve women, and this is especially so for older women who comprise the majority of the aging population. Older women are vulnerable to falls and their negative consequences. The purpose of this study is to identify personal characteristics of female participants enrolled in A Matter of Balance (AMOB) and associated outcomes related to falls-related self-efficacy and days of good physical health. Data were collected from seniors enrolled in AMOB sessions conducted in Texas between September 2007 and January 2009. Pre- and post-test data of 474 female participants were drawn from a larger statewide dataset. In these analyses, 60.5% of older females were Caucasian, 49.4% were age 79 years or older, 91.8% resided in metropolitan areas, 27.4% did not graduate high school, 59.3% lived alone, and on average reported 5.1 unhealthy days/month at baseline. Preliminary results indicate that women who attended AMOB reported a significant increase in falls-related self-efficacy (t(473) = -13.676, p < .001) and reported a significant increase in the number of days their physical health was good (t(473) = 2.590, p < .001). Findings from this study support the effectiveness of evidence-based programs for reducing falls-related risks in seniors. Identifying the characteristics of female participants enrolled in AMOB can enable health professionals to better target and meet the health demands of the aging population. Improving participant self-efficacy and physical health has implications to promote optimal health and function among older women and protect them from injury and disability.