File
Killingback C1,2, Price K2, Clark C2, Nyman S2
1University of Hull, Hull, United Kingdom, 2Bournemouth University, Bournemouth, United Kingdom
Background: The cost of falls and subsequent fragility fractures is high. Falls can result in reduced independence, injury and death. Exercise has been found to be the single most effective way to prevent falls with recent guidelines stating that older people at risk of falls should be referred for strength and balance training. While trials have reported low adherence to strength and balance programmes, adherence rates to group-based programmes are higher in the long-term than home-based exercises. Current UK National Health Service (NHS) provision of strength and balance exercise classes is often limited to 12 weeks which is not sufficient to prevent falls. A solution is to provide a transition pathway to enable patients from NHS-run programmes to move seamlessly to community-run exercise classes.
Purpose: This exploratory study sought to assess the local landscape in terms of current evidence-based community exercise group provision with a view to developing transition pathways in one locality in the South-West of England. The viability of this pathway was considered from the perspective of community exercise instructors.
Methods: This study received ethical approval from Bournemouth University Research Ethics Committee and employed a mixed-methods design. Exercise classes were identified through web searches and online databases. Quantitative data were collected from community exercise instructors via questionnaires (including programme content, participant numbers, and cost) and analysed descriptively. Qualitative data were collected through semi-structured interviews with instructors and analysed through thematic analysis.
Results: County wide mapping identified 138 exercise programmes with the most common being yoga, Pilates, chair-based exercise, exercise to music and Zumba. A total of 50 classes led by 26 instructors were aimed at older people and offered exercise for balance and lower limb strengthening. Following informed consent, six instructors were recruited. Instructors had between 6-28 participants attending regularly. Cost per class ranged from £4-8.
From the instructor perspective there was a strong willingness to be involved in developing a transition pathway to include clients from NHS-run balance classes. Raising potential clients' awareness of classes was a universal barrier to engaging older people in exercise, complicated by the lack of effective, low-cost advertising options. Difficulty advertising at NHS premises also represented a specific barrier to transition from NHS services. Five instructors found difficulties forming NHS partnerships due to lack of relationship and trust between NHS providers and the private sector. However, one instructor had forged strong relationships with a local GP who provided exercise referrals.
Conclusion(s): This exploratory study identified programme instructors who were willing to be involved in developing a transition pathway from NHS-run to community exercise programmes. Future work needs to consider the viability of a transition pathway from those currently involved in NHS-run balance programmes including physiotherapists, patients at risk of falls to understand their views on transitioning, and the extent to which community-run programmes prevent falls.
Implications: Providing a transition pathway for patients from NHS-run to community-run programmes would support older people in sustaining exercise as a means to prevent falls. Findings from this project will be translated into the development of a local transition pathway for further evaluation.
Keywords: older people, falls prevention, community exercise programmes
Funding acknowledgements: This work was funded by the Ageing and Dementia Research Centre, Bournemouth University.
Purpose: This exploratory study sought to assess the local landscape in terms of current evidence-based community exercise group provision with a view to developing transition pathways in one locality in the South-West of England. The viability of this pathway was considered from the perspective of community exercise instructors.
Methods: This study received ethical approval from Bournemouth University Research Ethics Committee and employed a mixed-methods design. Exercise classes were identified through web searches and online databases. Quantitative data were collected from community exercise instructors via questionnaires (including programme content, participant numbers, and cost) and analysed descriptively. Qualitative data were collected through semi-structured interviews with instructors and analysed through thematic analysis.
Results: County wide mapping identified 138 exercise programmes with the most common being yoga, Pilates, chair-based exercise, exercise to music and Zumba. A total of 50 classes led by 26 instructors were aimed at older people and offered exercise for balance and lower limb strengthening. Following informed consent, six instructors were recruited. Instructors had between 6-28 participants attending regularly. Cost per class ranged from £4-8.
From the instructor perspective there was a strong willingness to be involved in developing a transition pathway to include clients from NHS-run balance classes. Raising potential clients' awareness of classes was a universal barrier to engaging older people in exercise, complicated by the lack of effective, low-cost advertising options. Difficulty advertising at NHS premises also represented a specific barrier to transition from NHS services. Five instructors found difficulties forming NHS partnerships due to lack of relationship and trust between NHS providers and the private sector. However, one instructor had forged strong relationships with a local GP who provided exercise referrals.
Conclusion(s): This exploratory study identified programme instructors who were willing to be involved in developing a transition pathway from NHS-run to community exercise programmes. Future work needs to consider the viability of a transition pathway from those currently involved in NHS-run balance programmes including physiotherapists, patients at risk of falls to understand their views on transitioning, and the extent to which community-run programmes prevent falls.
Implications: Providing a transition pathway for patients from NHS-run to community-run programmes would support older people in sustaining exercise as a means to prevent falls. Findings from this project will be translated into the development of a local transition pathway for further evaluation.
Keywords: older people, falls prevention, community exercise programmes
Funding acknowledgements: This work was funded by the Ageing and Dementia Research Centre, Bournemouth University.
Topic: Health promotion & wellbeing/healthy ageing; Older people
Ethics approval required: Yes
Institution: Bournemouth University
Ethics committee: Bournemouth University Research Ethics Committee
Ethics number: ID18741
All authors, affiliations and abstracts have been published as submitted.
