Abstract OBJECTIVES: To examine the effect of a fall prevention program offered

Question

Abstract

OBJECTIVES:

To examine the effect of a fall prevention program offered under real-world conditions on

balance maintenance several months after the program. To explore the program's impact on falls.

METHOD:

A quasi-experimental study was conducted among community-dwelling seniors, with pre- and

post intervention measures of balance performance and self-reported falls. Ten community-based

organizations offered the intervention (98 participants) and 7 recruited participants to the study's

control arm (102 participants). An earlier study examined balance immediately after the 12-week

program. The present study focuses on the 12-month effect. Linear regression (balance) and

negative binomial regression (falls) procedures were performed.

RESULTS:

During the 12-month study period, experimental participants improved and maintained their

balance as reflected by their scores on three performance tests. There was no evidence of an

effect on falls.

DISCUSSION:

Structured group exercise programs offered in community-based settings can maintain selected

components of balance for several months after the program's end.

Questions

Question 1:

A. What are the two basic conditions for a quasi-experimental design to have good internal

validity?

B. Why do quasi experiments often turn out to have better external validity than

randomized field experiments?

C. What evidence of merit is used to determine the effectiveness of the intervention?

Explanation / Answer

A. Two basic conditions of good internal validity are (i) try to minimise the thread of partcipants i.e. experimental participants improved and maintained their balance and (ii) structured groups are manipulated and controlled so that it effec the measurement, no other treatments influences the results.

B. In quasi experiment, no randomisation required due to some unethical reason, in this case effect of fall prevention programme and due to the manipulation and controll the treatments on the groups, the results are very natural rather than purely random. That is why the experiment has better external validity the randomised field experiment.

C. The studyn was conducted with pre and post intervention measures of balance performance and self reported falls..

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