Falls in Care Homes (FinCH)
Research type
Research Study
Full title
A multi-centre cluster randomised controlled trial to evaluate the Guide to Action Care Home fall prevention programme in care homes for older people.
IRAS ID
199492
Contact name
Pip Logan
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Nottingham
Eudract number
2015-003410-25
ISRCTN Number
ISRCTN34353836
Duration of Study in the UK
3 years, 0 months, 0 days
Research summary
Many older people living in care homes fall and sustain injuries leading to hospital admissions and reduced independence. The NHS provides falls prevention interventions in care homes. Success is questionable as 80% of residents are cognitively impaired and unable to engage with treatments. We believe care home employees are in an excellent position to provide falls prevention interventions.
The Guide to Action for Care Homes (GtACH) is a falls prevention and training intervention designed to be implemented in care homes. It comprises of a risk assessment, and involves delivery of individualised evidence-based specific interventions and appropriate referral to external services. We have tried its use with care home staff and residents. This study will evaluate whether GtACH reduces falls rates in care home residents and the costs to the NHS.
Sixty six care homes and 1308 residents will be recruited in sites across the UK. Care home managers and residents or their named person will give consent and provide baseline information. Participating care homes will be randomly allocated to either the GtACH process or usual care. If allocated to the GtACH process, care home staff will attend the training and all residents will be offered the assessment and actions.
At 3, 6, 9 and 12 months after randomisation, data will be collected from each consenting resident on falls, fractures, changes in medication, equipment use, quality of life, activity and if a person has died. We will interview care home staff about the GtACH training and process and will observe how it is used in care homes. At the end of the study, care homes allocated to usual care will be offered a GtACH training session and materials.
Results will be disseminated to care home practices, residents, their families and carers as well as at professional conferences and in journal articles.
REC name
Yorkshire & The Humber - Bradford Leeds Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
16/YH/0111
Date of REC Opinion
11 Apr 2016
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion