Fall-Prevention Education and Fall-Related Behaviors in Older Adults

March 25, 2026 updated by: Betul Esra Cevik

The Effect of Fall-Prevention Education on Fall-Related Behaviors in Older Adults

This study investigates the effect of a structured fall-prevention education program on safe fall-related behaviors in older adults. Falls are a common and serious problem among older individuals and may lead to injuries, loss of independence, and decreased quality of life. The study includes older adults at high risk of falls who are randomly assigned to an intervention or control group. The intervention group participates in two interactive educational sessions covering fall risk factors, home safety, safe behaviors, and preventive strategies, followed by a question-and-answer discussion. The control group receives an informational brochure only. Participants' fall-related behaviors are assessed before and after the intervention using validated measurement tools. The study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of structured, interactive education in improving fall-prevention behaviors among older adults.

Study Overview

Status

Completed

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

Falls among older adults are a major public health concern, causing injuries, loss of independence, and increased healthcare costs. Nursing-led educational interventions play a key role in increasing awareness and promoting protective behaviors. This study is designed as a pretest-posttest, parallel-group randomized controlled trial to be conducted with older adults attending a family health center in Central Anatolia, Türkiye. Participants are classified as high fall risk according to the Morse Fall Risk Scale. Inclusion criteria include age 65 or older, Turkish literacy, and consent to participate. Exclusion criteria include prior fall education, communication problems, or low fall risk scores. The intervention group receives a structured fall-prevention education program consisting of two 25-minute interactive sessions, separated by a 10-minute break. The first session addresses intrinsic and extrinsic fall risk factors, while the second focuses on home safety modifications, safe behaviors, and health measures, concluding with a question-and-answer segment. The control group receives a brochure only. Data will be collected using the Personal Information Form, Morse Fall Risk Scale, and Fall Behaviors Scale for Older Adults. Statistical analyses will include paired and independent t-tests to assess within-group and between-group differences. Ethical approval has been obtained from the Sivas Cumhuriyet University Non-Interventional Clinical Research Ethics Committee (Decision No: 2024-07/32, 18 July 2024), along with written permission from the Provincial Directorate of Health. All participants will provide written informed consent, and the study will be conducted in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki principles.

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

66

Phase

  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

  • Turkey (Türkiye)
    • Sivas
      • Merkez, Sivas, Turkey (Türkiye)
        • Sivas Cumhuriyet University

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Older Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Aged 65 years or older
  • Native Turkish speaker
  • Literate in Turkish
  • High score on the Morse Fall Risk Scale
  • Provided informed consent to participate in the study

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Not a native Turkish speaker
  • Younger than 65 years of age
  • Presence of communication problems
  • Low score on the Morse Fall Risk Scale
  • Previously received fall-related education
  • Declined to participate in the study

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Prevention
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: None (Open Label)

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Intervention Group
Participants in the intervention group attended a structured fall-prevention education program consisting of two interactive sessions, each lasting 25 minutes, with a 10-minute break between sessions. The first session covered intrinsic and extrinsic fall risk factors, including muscle weakness, balance and gait problems, chronic diseases, medications, visual impairments, and environmental hazards. The second session focused on preventive measures, such as home safety modifications, safe behaviors, use of assistive devices, and health-related practices like exercise, hydration, and nutrition. Sessions concluded with a question-and-answer segment to address participants' individual concerns.
Behavioral: Structured Fall-Prevention Education

The intervention consisted of a structured, interactive fall-prevention education program for older adults at high risk of falls.

The program included two 25-minute sessions with a 10-minute break in between. The first session focused on intrinsic and extrinsic fall risk factors, such as muscle weakness, balance and gait problems, chronic diseases, polypharmacy, visual impairments, inappropriate footwear, and environmental hazards like poor lighting or slippery floors. The second session focused on preventive strategies, including home safety modifications (e.g., non-slip mats, grab bars), safe behaviors (e.g., standing up slowly, proper use of assistive devices), and health-related measures (e.g., balance exercises, nutrition, hydration). Sessions concluded with a question-and-answer segment tailored to individual concerns. This program emphasizes active participation and practical skills, distinguishing it from passive information-only interventions, such as brochures or written mate
Active Comparator: Control Group

Participants in the control group received an informational brochure containing general guidance on fall risk factors and preventive measures.

They were given approximately 45 minutes to review the brochure, and researchers were available to answer any questions.

No interactive education or structured sessions were provided to this group.
Behavioral: Fall-Prevention Informational Brochure
Participants received a printed informational brochure containing general information about fall risk factors and fall-prevention strategies. No structured educational sessions or interactive training were provided.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Fall-Related Behaviors
Time Frame: Baseline and 3 months after the intervention
Fall-related behaviors of older adults will be assessed using a structured questionnaire that evaluates behaviors associated with fall risk and fall prevention in daily life. The assessment includes behaviors related to mobility, environmental safety, use of assistive devices, and safety precautions. Higher scores indicate safer behaviors related to fall prevention.
Baseline and 3 months after the intervention

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Knowledge About Fall Risk and Prevention
Time Frame: Baseline and immediately after the intervention
Participants' knowledge regarding fall risk factors and fall-prevention strategies will be assessed using a structured questionnaire developed for older adults. The questionnaire evaluates awareness of intrinsic and extrinsic fall risk factors and knowledge of preventive measures to reduce fall risk in daily life. Higher scores indicate greater knowledge about fall prevention.
Baseline and immediately after the intervention

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Betul Esra Cevik

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

August 5, 2024

Primary Completion (Actual)

December 31, 2024

Study Completion (Actual)

December 31, 2024

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

March 5, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

March 25, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

March 30, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

March 30, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

March 25, 2026

Last Verified

March 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Other Study ID Numbers

  • SCU-BECEVIK-002

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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