Impact of the Stepping On program on falls in NSW
The Stepping On program has demonstrated effectiveness in reducing falls in community-dwelling older people in the research context. The NSW Ministry of Health has committed significant resources to implementing this fall prevention program across the state.
Objectives
To explore the impact of the Stepping On program on fall rates in NSW using routinely collected data. The specific aims are to investigate the impact of the Stepping On program on fall-related:
- Hospital admissions and
- Use of ambulance services
Study plan
A stepped wedge study design involving assessment of outcomes at multiple time points will be utilised to compare fall rates in NSW prior to the introduction of the Stepping On program and following its implementation in each Local Health District.
Routinely collected data from the NSW Admitted Patients Dataset and the NSW Ambulance Service database from 2005 to 2013 will be used, with data for 2014-2015 updated in 2016, allowing comparison for a minimum of three years prior to and following the introduction of the Stepping On program in each Local Health District.
