244460 A Matter of Balance: A Six-Month Outcomes Study of a Falls Self-Efficacy Program

Wednesday, November 2, 2011: 8:48 AM

Tara Bubniak, MPH , Booz Allen Hamilton, Atlanta, GA
Carianne Muse , Booz Allen Hamilton, Atlanta, GA
Vanessa Whitehurst, MSPH , Booz Allen Hamilton, Atlanta, GA
Andrew Warlick, BA , Booz Allen Hamilton, Atlanta, GA
Kerri Timmerman, MPH , Booz Allen Hamilton, Atlanta, GA
Introduction: Falls and fall-related injuries are a public health problem that can seriously affect older adults' quality of life and are a significant burden to our health care system. The current study looks at the outcomes of A Matter of Balance, an Administration on Aging (AoA)-funded falls self-efficacy program, six months after participants completed the course. Methods: As part of a contract with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Booz Allen Hamilton worked with Seattle Senior Services to identify participants for the study. Between March 2008 and February 2009, a total of 923 participants across four states were identified to complete the 30-minute phone survey. Topics covered included feelings of self efficacy, health-related quality of life, falls prevention knowledge and behaviors, and continuation of program exercises. Microsoft Access was used to input all data and the data was analyzed using SAS. Results: A total of 320 participants successfully completed the survey between May and October 2010. Data showed that A Matter of Balance not only increased participants' self-confidence, but the confidence gained remained with participants once the class ended. Five of the six fall prevention behaviors learned increased from pre-survey to six-month follow-up, while participants continued to do the 13 course exercises approximately three days a week at six-months post intervention. Conclusion: Although A Matter of Balance increases participants' falls self-confidence, it should be implemented in conjunction with an evidence-based falls prevention program that will assist participants to gain the strength and balance needed to prevent falls.

Learning Areas:
Administer health education strategies, interventions and programs
Conduct evaluation related to programs, research, and other areas of practice
Implementation of health education strategies, interventions and programs
Planning of health education strategies, interventions, and programs

Learning Objectives:
1. Describe the Matter of Balance course components and funding mechanisms. 2. Identify three self-reported positive six-month outcomes of Matter of Balance for program participants. 3. Explain the importance of implementing both fall-related self-efficacy programs and evidence-based strength and balance exercises to prevent falls.

Keywords: Self-Efficacy, Outcomes Research

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I have an MPH and I have been working with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Injury Prevention and Control over the past year to work on this study. I have played an integral role in collecting survey data, analyzing participant responses, and creating an outcomes report.
Any relevant financial relationships? Yes

Name of Organization Clinical/Research Area Type of relationship
Booz Allen Hamilton Older Adult Injury Employment (includes retainer)

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.