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The European Journal of Public Health Advance Access originally published online on October 29, 2008
The European Journal of Public Health 2009 19(1):7-15; doi:10.1093/eurpub/ckn099
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© The Author 2008. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the European Public Health Association. All rights reserved.

Systematic Reviews

Quality of life as an outcome of fall prevention interventions among the aged: a systematic review

Sari Sinikka Vaapio1,2, Marika Johanna Salminen1,3, Ansa Ojanlatva4,5,6 and Sirkka-Liisa Kivelä1,2,3

1 Institute of Clinical Medicine, Family Medicine, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
2 Satakunta Central Hospital, Pori, Finland
3 Unit of Family Medicine, Turku University Hospital, Turku, Finland
4 Department of Teacher Education, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
5 Institute of Biomedicine, Centre for Reproductive and Developmental Medicine, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
6 Turku City Hospital, Turku, Finland

Correspondence: Sari Vaapio, MSc, Department of Family Medicine, Lemminkäisenkatu 1, FI-20014 University of Turku, tel: +358 2 333 8423, fax: +358 2 333 8439, e-mail: sasiva{at}utu.fi

Received July 10, 2008 , accepted September 25, 2008

Background: Measuring quality of life (QOL) is an important part in assessing the effects of treatments and health services on patients’ well-being. This kind of an assessment should be included when assessing the effects of preventive programmes. The aim was to explore whether QOL has been used as an outcome measure in fall prevention trials and to provide a systematic review of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that involve fall prevention interventions with an assessment of the effects on QOL among the aged. No previous systematic review about this topic among the aged was found. Methods: A search covering various medical databases was conducted to identify RCTs about the effects of fall prevention programmes on QOL. The 12 included studies were classified according to an appraisal of the population, the method of randomization, the intervention and control programmes, the QOL measures and the results. Methodological quality was assessed in relation to blinding at outcome assessment, length of follow-up and using intention to treat analysis. Results: Six studies out of 12 showed a positive effect on some dimensions of QOL (physical function, social function, vitality, mental health, environmental domain). The methods of interventions showing a positive effect varied. Conclusion: Only a few fall prevention studies reported a positive effect on QOL. Studies with larger sample sizes, longer follow-ups and multiple outcome measures are needed. QOL should be taken into account as an secondary outcome measure.

Keywords: quality of life, fall prevention, randomized controlled trial, aged


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