Journal Article

Effectiveness of robotics fall prevention program among elderly in senior housings, Bangkok, Thailand: a quasi-experimental study

Panza, Alessio, Suputtitada, Areerat, Taneepanichskul, Surasak, Maneeprom, Natthawadee

2019

Overview

This study aimed at investigating the effectiveness of a robotic fall prevention program on knowledge, exercises, balance, and incidence of falls among elderly in senior housings. This is a quasi-experimental study. Sixty-four elderly in two senior housings in Bangkok with Barthel Index scale ≥12, who had either at least one fall experience in the past 12 months and/or had Timed Up and Go (TUG) test ≥20 seconds were recruited and purposively assigned to the intervention group (received a small robot-installed fall prevention software, personal coaching, and handbook, n=32) and control group (received only handbook, n=32). Outcomes were knowledge score evaluated by structured questionnaire through face-to-face interviews, number of exercises measured by self-recorded diary, and balance score assessed by TUG and Berg Balance Scale (BBS). The incidence of falls was assessed by face-to-face interviews. Both groups were assessed at baseline, 3rd, and 6th month after the intervention. There was a statistically significant improvement in knowledge mean score at 6th month in both the groups. However, the intervention group showed faster increase in knowledge mean score than the control group at 3rd month ( <0.01). The intervention group showed a statistically significant higher number of exercises than the control group at 3rd and 6th month ( <0.05). There was no statistically significant difference on TUG and BBS mean scores between the two groups at baseline, 3rd, and 6th month. However, the intervention group showed a statistically significant improvement in TUG and BBS at 6th month post-intervention ( <0.01). There was one fall reported in the control group. The robotic fall prevention program increased knowledge on fall prevention and promoted exercises and balance among elderly in senior housings.

• Publisher: Dove Medical Press Limited,Taylor & Francis Ltd,Dove Press,Dove Medical Press
• Subject: 1 Alessio Panza / 1 Areerat Suputtitada2 1College of Public Health Sciences / 1 Surasak Taneepanichskul / 3rd / Accidental Falls - prevention & control / Aged / and 6th month after the intervention.Results: There was a statistically significant improvement in knowledge mean score at 6th month in both the groups. However / and 6th month. However / and balance score assessed by TUG and Berg Balance Scale (BBS). The incident of fall was assessed by face-to-face interviews. Both groups were assessed at baseline / and handbook / and incident of fall among elderly in senior housings.Patients and methods: This is a quasi-experimental study. Sixty-four elderly in two senior housings in Bangkok with Barthel Index scale ≥12 / Balance / Bangkok 10330 / Berg Balance Scale / Cameras / Care and treatment / Caregivers / Chulalongkorn University / Disease control / elderly / Exercise / Exercise Test / exercises / Faculty of Medicine / fall prevention robot / Falls / Falls (Accidents) / Female / Health aspects / Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice / Hospitals / Housing / Humans / Injuries / Injury prevention / Male / Medicine / Middle Aged / n=32) and control group (received only handbook / n=32). Outcomes were knowledge score evaluated by structured questionnaire through face-to-face interviews / Natthawadee Maneeprom / number of exercises measured by self-recorded diary / Nursing home patients / Older people / personal coaching / Population / Postural Balance / Prevention / Prevention programs / Program Evaluation / Public health / Quasi-experimental methods / Review / Risk factors / Robotics / Robots / senior housing / Sensors / Surveys / Thailand / Thailand Objective: This study aimed at investigating the effectiveness of robotic fall prevention program on knowledge / Thailand; 2Department of Rehabilitation Medicine / the intervention group showed a statistically significant improvement in TUG and BBS at 6th month post-intervention (P<0.01). There was one fall reported in the control group.Conclusion: Robotic fall prevention program increased knowledge on fall prevention and promoted exercises and balance among elderly in the senior housings. fall prevention robot / the intervention group showed faster increase in knowledge mean score than the control group at 3rd month (P<0.01). The intervention group showed a statistically significant higher number of exercises than the control group at 3rd and 6th month (P<0.05). There was no statistically significant difference on TUG and BBS mean scores between the two groups at baseline / Time Factors / Time Up and Go test / Timed Up and Go test / Validity / who had either at least one fall experience in the past 12 months and/or had Timed Up and Go (TUG) test ≥20 seconds were recruited and purposively assigned to the intervention group (received a small robot-installed fall prevention software