We will test two methods to prepare and support physical therapists to deliver the Otago Exercise Program. Method One will include the standard Otago Exercise Program training. Method Two will include the same training and practice to set specific and tangible goals to motivate patients with a Brief Action Planning expert.
We are recruiting 40 physical therapists and 200 older adults who have recently had a fall. The physical therapists will be randomly assigned to receive one of the two training/practice methods. They will then deliver the Otago Exercise Program to five eligible older adult patients. A proportion of the sessions will be voice recorded for researchers to analyze how the exercise program is delivered.
Physical therapists who are assigned to Method Two will be offered the goal-setting training after they finish delivering the program to their five patients.
This Otago Exercise Program Includes:
• 5 home visits from the physical therapists to teach a standardized exercise program in their homes
• Three telephone calls to revise patients’ exercise plan
Older Adult Participants Will be Asked to Do the Following:
• Five in-person appointments at the Falls Prevention Clinic (at the beginning of the study, and at six, 12, 18, and 24 months). The appointments will include:
• Testing your risk of falls and completing a short questionnaire
• Getting fitted to use a step counter called Fitbit (for seven days)
• Telephone calls quarterly with a project staff member to complete a short questionnaire about your use of health services (at the beginning of the study, and at three, six, nine and 12 months)
You may be eligible if you are:
A Physical Therapist
• Are a registered physical therapist in British Columbia
• Have never received training in Motivational Interviewing or Brief Action Planning
• Are willing to be audio-recorded during the home visits and follow-up phone calls with the older adult participants
• Are willing to be randomized to one of the training groups
An Older Adult
• Are age 65 years or above
• Had a fall, corroborated by an informant, in the previous 6 months
• Are able to walk three metres with or without an assistive device
• Have a Mini-Mental State Examination score > 24/30
• Understand, speak, and read English
• Have access to a smart phone and internet
• Are willing to have their treatment sessions audio-recorded
• Are able to provide written informed consent
