Gertrude A. Rixt Zijlstra

Differences between participants and non-participants in an RCT on physical activity and psychological interventions for older persons

Background and aims: Volunteer bias in intervention studies on successful aging has been poorly explored. This paper investigated differences between participants and non-participants of the Groningen Intervention Study on Successful Aging (GISSA) over a wide range of demographic, physical, psychological and social subject characteristics. Methods: Subjects were recruited among a longitudinal cohort study (Groningen Longitudinal Aging Study) and included 558 men and 711 women, aged 65–96 years, who were invited to participate in the GISSA. Measures were obtained by questionnaires at the moment of invitation and eight years before invitation. Participants were compared with three groups of non-participants: persons who refused to participate, those who did not respond after a reminder, and those who intended to participate but withdrew before pre-test. Results: At the moment of invitation, participants were younger, better educated, and functionally and physically more active than the three groups of non-participants. They also had better scores on the physical functioning subscale of the medical outcome scale, better ADL, iADL and vigorous ADL functions and fewer depressive symptoms, and perceived less social support in everyday and problem situations. Participants reported a less strong rate of decline in physical and psychological functioning in the eight years prior to the invitation than did the other groups. Conclusion: Due to volunteer bias, results of intervention studies on successful aging may have limited generalizability.

Exercise for reducing fear of falling in older people living in the community: Cochrane systematic review and meta-analysis

OBJECTIVE to determine the effect of exercise interventions on fear of falling in community-living people aged ≥65. DESIGN systematic review and meta-analysis. Bibliographic databases, trial registers and other sources were searched for randomised or quasi-randomised trials. Data were independently extracted by pairs of reviewers using a standard form. RESULTS thirty trials (2,878 participants) reported 36 interventions (Tai Chi and yoga (n = 9); balance training (n = 19); strength and resistance training (n = 8)). The risk of bias was low in few trials. Most studies were from high-income countries (Australia = 8, USA = 7). Intervention periods (<12 weeks = 22; 13-26 weeks = 7; >26 weeks = 7) and exercise frequency (1-3 times/week = 32; ≥4 times/week = 4) varied between studies. Fear of falling was measured by single-item questions (7) and scales measuring falls efficacy (14), balance confidence (9) and concern or worry about falling (2). Meta-analyses showed a small to moderate effect of exercise interventions on reducing fear of falling immediately post-intervention (standardised mean difference (SMD) 0.37, 95% CI 0.18, 0.56; 24 studies; low-quality evidence). There was a small, but not statistically significant effect in the longer term (<6 months (SMD 0.17, 95% CI -0.05, 0.38 (four studies) and ≥6 months post-intervention SMD 0.20, 95% CI -0.01, 0.41 (three studies)). CONCLUSIONS exercise interventions probably reduce fear of falling to a small to moderate degree immediately post-intervention in community-living older people. The high risk of bias in most included trials suggests findings should be interpreted with caution. High-quality trials are needed to strengthen the evidence base in this area.

Cost-effectiveness of an intervention to reduce fear of falling

OBJECTIVES The aim of this study was to assess whether a multicomponent cognitive behavioral group intervention is preferable to usual care in terms of (healthcare) costs and effects on fear of falling and activity avoidance. METHODS This economic evaluation was embedded in a randomized controlled trial among 540 community-living adults in the Netherlands, aged 70 years and older who reported fear of falling and fear-induced activity avoidance. The participants allocated to the intervention group received a multicomponent cognitive behavioral group intervention consisting of eight weekly sessions and a booster session. The sessions were aimed at instilling realistic views of falls, reducing fall risk, and increasing activity and safe behavior. Participants in the control group received usual care. Cost outcome measures were healthcare costs, and patient and family costs. Clinical outcomes were fear of falling and activity avoidance. All outcomes were assessed at baseline and at 2, 8, and 14 months by means of registration forms, self-administered questionnaires, and interviews by telephone. RESULTS Participants were randomly allocated to intervention (n = 280) and control groups (n = 260). Costs for the intervention program were on average €276 per person. Total costs per person were comparable (€4,925 in intervention group and €4,828 in control group). Furthermore, favorable effects of the program were observed for fear of falling and activity avoidance. CONCLUSIONS This study showed that the intervention program is preferable to usual care in terms of costs and effects. The program had comparable costs and significantly reduced fear of falling and associated activity avoidance among older community-living persons.

Het meten van angst om te vallen met de Falls Efficacy Scale-International (FES-I). Achtergrond en psychometrische kenmerken

The assessment of fear of falling with the Falls Efficacy Scale-International (FES-I). Development and psychometric properties in Dutch elderly. Fear of falling is common in older persons. Different methods have been developed to assess fear of falling. The most well-know measure is the 10-item Falls Efficacy Scale (FES). However, the FES items (a) focus on low functioning older persons and particularly on in-home activities, (b) do not comprise social activities, and (c) were developed from a US perspective so that translation in European languages is hampered. To solve these issues, the 16-item Falls Efficacy Scale-International (FES-I) was recently developed within the Prevention of Falls Network Europe (ProFaNE). In this article, the Dutch version of the FES-I is presented and the psychometric properties in 213 Dutch persons aged 70 years of age and over are described. The FES-I showed to be unidimensional and internally consistent; the Cronbach alpha coefficient was 0.96. The 4 week test-retest intra-class correlation coefficient was 0.82. The associations of the FES-I sumscores with age, gender, falls history and overall fear of falling was as expected, indicating construct validity. In addition, the FES-I discriminated in the same extent as the original 10-item FES scale. We conclude that the FES-I showed acceptable reliability and construct validity and may be useful in cross-national research. Future studies should focus on the sensitivity to change of FES-I.Tijdschr Gerontol Geriatr 2007; 38: 204-212SamenvattingAngst om te vallen komt frequent voor bij ouderen. In het verleden zijn hiervoor verschillende meetmethoden ontwikkeld. Een bekend en veelgebruikt instrument om angst om te vallen bij ouderen te meten is de Falls Efficacy Scale (FES). De FES blijkt echter (a) met name gericht te zijn op slechter functionerende ouderen en op activiteiten binnenshuis en minder geschikt te zijn voor ouderen uit de algemene populatie, (b) geen betrekking te hebben op sociale activiteiten die verband kunnen houden met valangst, en (c) te zijn ontwikkeld vanuit Amerikaans perspectief waardoor een eenduidige vertaling in verschillende Europese talen wordt bemoeilijkt. Binnen het Prevention of Falls Network Europe (ProFaNE) is de 16-item Falls Efficacy Scale-International (FES-I) ontwikkeld om tegemoet te komen aan deze bezwaren. In dit artikel wordt de Nederlandse versie van de FES-I gepresenteerd en wordt verslag gedaan van de psychometrische kwaliteiten van de FES-I in een Nederlandse steekproef van 213 ouderen van 70 jaar en ouder. De FES-I blijkt unidimensioneel en intern consistent te zijn; de test-hertest betrouwbaarheid is goed. De samenhang met leeftijd, geslacht, valincidenten en bezorgdheid om te vallen wordt zoals verwacht aangetroffen. Het discriminerend vermogen van de FES-I is vergelijkbaar met de oorspronkelijke FES. Geconcludeerd kan worden dat de FES-I een betrouwbaar en valide instrument is om angst om te vallen bij ouderen vast te stellen. Toekomstig onderzoek zal moeten uitwijzen of de FES-I ook gevoeliger is dan de FES voor het vaststellen van veranderingen in angst om te vallen.

Zicht op Evenwicht Landelijke implementatie van een cursus gericht op het verminderen van angst om te vallen bij zelfstandig wonende ouderen

BACKGROUND The Dutch version of A Matter of Balance (AMB-NL) is a cognitive behavioral group program to reduce fear of falling and related activity avoidance in community-living older persons. This paper presents the strategy for implementation of AMB-NL in Dutch homecare organizations and the outcomes of this implementation. The aim was to implement AMB-NL in at least 50 % of 64 homecare organizations in The Netherlands in 2009 and 2010. METHODS The implementation strategy was based on the four phases of the Replicating Effective Interventions: pre-conditions, pre-implementation, implementation, and maintenance and evolution. RESULTS After preparing the implementation activities, such as identifying implementation barriers, consulting stakeholders, preparing the materials involved in the implementation, and training the facilitators of the program (n = 53), AMB-NL was implemented in 16 of the 64 homecare organizations (25 %). Another five homecare organizations indicated that they would shortly include AMB-NL in their care program. These organizations conducted the intervention 19 times to a total of 178 participants. After the implementation phase another 16 facilitators were trained, and program materials were successfully disseminated. CONCLUSION The implementation of AMB-NL was well performed. The targeted aim is not fully reached within the two-year timeframe, but the program is well received by participants, trainers and homecare organizations. Further implementation and maintenance of AMB-NL in primary health care is recommended.

Measuring avoidance behavior due to fear of falling in community-living older adults

The objective of the EVIDEM-EXERCISE study was to evaluatethe effectiveness of an exercise regime as a therapy for the behaviouraland psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD). A pragmatic, ran-domized, controlled, single-blind, parallel-group trial of a dyadic exer-cise regime (tailored walking) for community-dwelling individuals withBPSD and their carers was undertaken. The primary outcome wasBehavioural and Psychological Symptoms as measured by the Neuro-Psychiatric Inventory at week 12. Results show no significant differ-ence of NPI score at week 12 between the group receiving the dyadicexercise regime and those that did not. Secondary outcome measure ofcaregiver’s burden was significantly improved; caregiver burden dou-bled by week 12 for the control group participants, but decreased forthose receiving the exercise intervention. In conclusion, this study foundthat regular simple exercise does not improve BPSD but did seem toattenuate changes of caregiver burden.Studies about intimacy in old age have mostly focused on institutionalized life-long marriages. Little research has focused on re-partnering in later life and the impact these relationships have on life satisfaction. Framed by Giddens’ Transformation of intimacy and Laslett’s Third age, as well as changing social and demographical conditions, this paper focuses on how different forms of new intimate relationships impact on life satisfaction in later life. Qualitative interviews were conducted with a strategic sample of 28 Swedes, 63–91 years, who were married, cohabiting and living apart together in new intimate heterosexual relationships initiated after the age of 60 or who were currently dating. The results showed the significance of new intimate relations the experience of life satisfaction in later life: The importance of being needed and confirmed by one’s partner, for intimacy and sexuality, for unloading children’s care responsibility, for sharing experiences in everyday life and for safety. The results also showed the importance of the partner as a resource for new experiences and a healthier life style. In conclusion, the results will be theorized in a time frame: First, in the light of new post (re)productive free time in the third age. Second, in the light of the finite remaining life-time. The results from the qualitative study will be contextualized by results from a representative survey on intimate relations among 3 000 60-90 year old Swedes (data collection has just finished).It is often argued that in late modernity sex has escaped its reproductive cage and people form pure relationships, based on mutual satisfaction. Ironically, although older people are per definitio ...