This research is led by Sally Hoodless as part of her PhD Fellowship. For more information about Sally’s research interests see our PhD Fellowship page

 

 

What are we trying to do?

• Address the lack of knowledge and understanding about the characteristics, perceptions and experiences of community-dwelling older men who decline/accept or complete/withdraw after uptake of the Falls Management Exercise (FaME) programme.
• Explore the views of both community-dwelling older men and Postural Stability Instructors (PSI) on the novel use of teleconferencing-assisted implementation of FaME. This will consider the potential for technology to improve the uptake, dose, and adherence of the programme among community-dwelling older men who are referred into FaME classes across Greater Manchester.

 

 

Why is this important?

Falls are a leading cause of injury, morbidity, reduced function, and death. Although falls affect around one in three adults 65 years and over, they are not inevitable. Individually tailored strength and balance exercises can reduce the risk of having a fall, or from harmful consequences.

 

FaME is a six month falls prevention programme for adults aged 65 years and older. Weekly face-to-face small group exercise classes are led by Postural Stability Instructors (PSI), with additional exercises to do at home. Research shows that by improving balance, increasing strength, and teaching skills to get up from the floor,  FaME reduces falls and concerns about falling among community-dwelling older adults.

 

Despite the proven benefits of FaME, much fewer older men participate in classes when compared with older women but we have little understanding about why this is. However, more men are reported to participate in FaME programmes which use technology to assist in the delivery. With a growing interest in the use of technology and its role in falls prevention, digital healthcare has been shown in research studies to be both acceptable and effective when used in combination with exercise as part of a fall’s prevention programme for community-dwelling older adults.

 

 

How are we doing it?

• Semi-structured interviews and focus groups with community-dwelling older men and Postural Stability Instructors (PSI) are being used to gather opinions and perspectives.
• Community-dwelling older men will be asked to join the study at the time of referral from primary care/community falls rehabilitation services to FaME, or at the FaME pre-assessment appointment with the PSI before starting the programme. Recruiting participants at these points will provide valuable opportunities for gathering evidence about the experiences, perceptions, and attitudes towards falls, risk of falls and FaME, particularly from men who choose not to take up the programme.
• We are also exploring opinions on the acceptability of teleconferencing-assisted implementation of FaME to promote greater uptake, adherence, and effective dose among community-dwelling older men referred into FaME programmes across Greater Manchester.

 

 

Who are we working with?

• Central Manchester Falls Team
• South Manchester Falls Team
• North Manchester Community Rehabilitation Services 
• Manchester Active Physical Activity Referral Service (PARS)
• Later Life Training 

 

 

Funding:

This PhD studentship, is one of 6 that has been  made available through a partnership between The Dunhill Medical Trust, ourselves at the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Applied Research Collaboration Greater Manchester (ARC-GM), The University of Manchester, and the NIHR Policy Research Unit in Older People and Frailty / Healthy Ageing.

 

 

Contact info:

 

 

PhD Fellow

 

Sally Hoodless

sally.hoodless@postgrad.manchester.ac.uk