Comparison of alternative falls data collection methods in the Prevention of Falls Injury Trial (PreFIT)

<h4>Background and Objective</h4> <p>Prospective, monthly diaries are recommended for collecting falls data but are burdensome and expensive. The aim of the article was to compare characteristics of fallers and estimates of fall rates by method of data collection.</p> <h4...

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Main Authors: Griffin, J, Lall, R, Bruce, J, Withers, E, Finnegan, S, Lamb, S, Prefit Study Group
Format: Journal article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2018
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author Griffin, J
Lall, R
Bruce, J
Withers, E
Finnegan, S
Lamb, S
Prefit Study Group,
author_facet Griffin, J
Lall, R
Bruce, J
Withers, E
Finnegan, S
Lamb, S
Prefit Study Group,
author_sort Griffin, J
collection OXFORD
description <h4>Background and Objective</h4> <p>Prospective, monthly diaries are recommended for collecting falls data but are burdensome and expensive. The aim of the article was to compare characteristics of fallers and estimates of fall rates by method of data collection.</p> <h4>Study Design and Setting</h4> <p>A methodology study nested within a large cluster randomized controlled trial. We randomized 9,803 older adults from 63 general practices across England to receive one of three fall prevention interventions. Participants provided a retrospective report of falls in postal questionnaires mailed every 4 months. A separate randomization allocated participants to receive prospective monthly falls diaries for one simultaneous 4-month period.</p> <h4>Results</h4> <p>Falls diaries were returned by 7,762 of 9,375 (83%); of which 6,306 (67%) participants reported the same number of falls on both data sources. Diary nonresponders were older and had poorer levels of physical and mental health. Analysis of time points where both data sources were available showed the falls rate on diaries was consistently higher than on the questionnaire (mean rate: 0.16 vs. 0.12 falls per person-month observation). Diary allocation was associated with a higher rate of withdrawal from the main trial.</p> <h4>Conclusion</h4> <p>Diary completion was associated with sample attrition. We found on average a 32% difference in falls rates between the two data sources. Retrospective and prospective falls data are not consistently reported when collected simultaneously.</p>
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spelling oxford-uuid:4defcf43-4feb-4817-9137-9527235cb2672022-03-26T15:58:11ZComparison of alternative falls data collection methods in the Prevention of Falls Injury Trial (PreFIT)Journal articlehttp://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_dcae04bcuuid:4defcf43-4feb-4817-9137-9527235cb267EnglishSymplectic Elements at OxfordElsevier2018Griffin, JLall, RBruce, JWithers, EFinnegan, SLamb, SPrefit Study Group, <h4>Background and Objective</h4> <p>Prospective, monthly diaries are recommended for collecting falls data but are burdensome and expensive. The aim of the article was to compare characteristics of fallers and estimates of fall rates by method of data collection.</p> <h4>Study Design and Setting</h4> <p>A methodology study nested within a large cluster randomized controlled trial. We randomized 9,803 older adults from 63 general practices across England to receive one of three fall prevention interventions. Participants provided a retrospective report of falls in postal questionnaires mailed every 4 months. A separate randomization allocated participants to receive prospective monthly falls diaries for one simultaneous 4-month period.</p> <h4>Results</h4> <p>Falls diaries were returned by 7,762 of 9,375 (83%); of which 6,306 (67%) participants reported the same number of falls on both data sources. Diary nonresponders were older and had poorer levels of physical and mental health. Analysis of time points where both data sources were available showed the falls rate on diaries was consistently higher than on the questionnaire (mean rate: 0.16 vs. 0.12 falls per person-month observation). Diary allocation was associated with a higher rate of withdrawal from the main trial.</p> <h4>Conclusion</h4> <p>Diary completion was associated with sample attrition. We found on average a 32% difference in falls rates between the two data sources. Retrospective and prospective falls data are not consistently reported when collected simultaneously.</p>
spellingShingle Griffin, J
Lall, R
Bruce, J
Withers, E
Finnegan, S
Lamb, S
Prefit Study Group,
Comparison of alternative falls data collection methods in the Prevention of Falls Injury Trial (PreFIT)
title Comparison of alternative falls data collection methods in the Prevention of Falls Injury Trial (PreFIT)
title_full Comparison of alternative falls data collection methods in the Prevention of Falls Injury Trial (PreFIT)
title_fullStr Comparison of alternative falls data collection methods in the Prevention of Falls Injury Trial (PreFIT)
title_full_unstemmed Comparison of alternative falls data collection methods in the Prevention of Falls Injury Trial (PreFIT)
title_short Comparison of alternative falls data collection methods in the Prevention of Falls Injury Trial (PreFIT)
title_sort comparison of alternative falls data collection methods in the prevention of falls injury trial prefit
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