Posters for 3rd World Falls Congress 2026

Introduction: Falls are a common occurrence in both inpatient and emergency settings with CT head imaging being the gold standard for assessing potential intracranial injuries. However, it was noted that CT scans are often inappropriately requested leading to unnecessary radiation exposure and increased healthcare costs. The aim of the audit was to evaluate adherence to NICE Head Injury Guidelines on CT head[i] scanning after falls in a district hospital. Methods: In the first PDSA cycle, 50 adult patients who attended the ED with a fall were randomly selected. Data was collected

Purpose With >2.1 million British Columbians ≥50 years-of-age, the Ministry of Health recognized the need for a proactive approach to supporting health and wellness in aging. Age Forward is a comprehensive strategy and 3-year action plan to prevent and reduce significant factors contributing to increased health-care utilization and poor health outcomes observed among older adults: frailty, falls, fall-related injuries. Implementation Age Forward presents five focus areas addressing specific aspects of health and well-being: Prevention & Health Promotion; Screening, Early Identification & Risk

Introduction In British Columbia (BC), Canada, falls are the leading contributor to injury-related direct health care costs, and the leading cause of injury-related hospitalization for all ages and deaths among adults ≥70 years-of-age. This burden is expected to increase as the population continues to grow and age. The purpose of this study is to investigate five-year trends and patterns of fall-related injuries in BC to inform injury prevention policies and practices. Methods Using ICD-10 codes W00-W19, fall-related deaths were obtained from BC Vital Statistics and hospitalizations from the

Title: Improving Frailty Assessment in Older Adults with Bladder Cancer: A Quality Improvement Audit and Re-Audit at Oxford University Hospitals. Background: Frailty assessment is a crucial element of personalised care in older cancer patients. In bladder cancer, treatment options, ranging from radical cystectomy to conservative or palliative management, must consider physiological resilience rather than chronological age. Despite national recommendations to record frailty assessments, local compliance remained inconsistent. Aim: To evaluate and improve compliance with frailty assessment

Introduction: Falls are a leading cause of morbidity among older adults, particularly in post-acute rehabilitation settings characterised by multimorbidity and functional decline. The World Guidelines for Falls Prevention and Management for Older Adults (2022) recommend comprehensive, person-centred multifactorial falls risk assessment (MFRA), including evaluation of balance and vestibular function. However, vestibular symptoms are frequently under-recognised in routine practice. Objective: To implement and evaluate a structured vestibular symptom screening process within a physiotherapy-led

INTRODUCTION Frailty is prevalent in Singapore's rapidly ageing population. The Clinical Frailty Scale (CFS) is a widely adopted frailty assessment tool chosen for its ease of use and predictive accuracy. However, CFS grading requires clinical judgment, introducing subjectivity and potential inter-rater variability. The Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB) is an objective measure of physical function that can predict disability and mortality in older adults, with declining scores suggesting increased frailty. This study aimed to determine the correlation of SPPB to CFS in identifying

Introduction Falls are a crucially important issue for older adults with one-third 65years+ falling each year. In Greater Manchester (GM) fall rates are above the national average in 6/10 localities, leading to the highest inpatient spend in England on hip/thigh injuries. However, falls can be prevented via strength and balance exercises. World guidelines recommend older people be screened for fall risk when they visit a doctor, and based on their risk, referred to appropriate services; but there is currently no easy way to do this. A new tool, eFalls, automatically calculates fall risk from

Background: Lying and standing blood pressure (L/S BP) assessment is essential for detecting orthostatic hypotension (OH) and preventing falls in rehabilitation wards. staff management of postural drops remained largely medical, with limited patient engagement. Aim: To develop and implement a care bundle that improves staff understanding, patient involvement, and proactive management of OH. Methods: Using quality improvement methodology and PDSA cycles, baseline compliance and staff knowledge were assessed via questionnaires and notes review. Interventions included staff education through

Introduction In-hospital delirium and in-hospital falls are leading causes of harm to older people in hospital and are inter-related. Interventions to prevent in-hospital delirium have been shown also to prevent in-hospital falls. To better target interventions to older in-patients at risk both of delirium and falls, a prognostic model that predicts both delirium and falls risk would be clinically useful. Prognostic models intended for routine clinical care are most effective when based on information routinely captured in electronic health records (EHRs). Objective To identify overlapping

Introduction: Communicare in Southampton, deliver a programme aimed at falls reduction through the good neighbours’ network charity. This urban community approach has a non-clinical focus and equips community dwellers with knowledge and skills. The initiative comprises information delivery in community gatherings, together with the provision of an “Activity Buddy” approach. The inclusive programme is developed and delivered cognisant of the background and attitudes of the diverse community served. Method: Information delivery is primarily at Communicare’s Friendship Clubs. These gatherings

Background Perturbation-based balance training (PBT) is a promising intervention for preventing falls among community-dwelling older adults. Effective reactive postural control is essential to maintain stability when encountering unexpected perturbations. However, the immediate and sustained effects of short-term PBT on reactive postural control in older adults remain inconsistent across existing research. Additionally, the influence of lower limb dominance on PBT training responses remains unclear. Methods In this assessor-blinded, randomized controlled trial, 48 community-dwelling older

Introduction: Quantitative gait analysis can support clinical diagnostics, monitor progression of diseases, and provide information about the efficacy of interventions. We wanted to investigate values for gait parameters covering the broad spectrum of ageing, gender and health . Therefore, we differentiated between the groups robust, transient and frail by functional ability as measured with Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB). Methods: Three established frameworks that assess gait characteristics were combined into a new framework-based approach comprising eight gait parameters: gait

Introduction: Case-mix classifications of health resource utilization categorize individuals based on their health resource utilization patterns. Cost trajectories (and hence case-mixes) among fallers are not yet established. Examining whether case-mixes exist, based on health care resource use trajectories, will provide novel insight into cost-use patterns of older adults at high-risk of falls. Hence, we identified distinct case-mixes among older fallers determined by their longitudinal health resource utilization (HRU) cost trajectories and outlined baseline predictors of these HRU case

Introduction Falls management exercise (FaME) programmes, led by postural stability instructors, improve physical function and reduce falls risk. However, older adults rarely continue exercising after programmes end, resulting in lost improvements and increased falls risk. This study aimed to co-design an exercise maintenance intervention acceptable for older adults to receive and service providers to deliver. Methods In consultation with older adults exiting FaME programmes and professional stakeholders, the intervention was developed using an iterative three-stage co-design approach. In

Introduction: Peripheral neuropathy is a risk factor for falls, especially in older people with chronic diseases. Diabetes-related foot disease is a chronic disease that is predominantly prevalent in older people, and peripheral neuropathy is present in most patients. While this increases their risk of falling, surprisingly little is known about falls within this high-risk population. Our aim was to investigate fall incidence in people with diabetes and peripheral neuropathy, and whether demographic and clinical characteristics are associated with falls. Method: Prospective longitudinal

Introduction: Fall‑prevention typically targets older adults, but midlife may be a crucial window for early intervention. Regular physical activity lowers fall risk, yet many women in midlife encounter significant barriers to staying active. Providing targeted support could help increase participation. The MRFF-funded Active Women over 50 trial (N=1000) is testing a remotely-delivered program to support physical activity participation in women aged 50+ across NSW, Australia. This report explores participant motivations for enrolling in the trial in the context of fall prevention. Method

Introduction Low physical activity among older adults contributes to reduced function and increased risk of falls. Over half of older Australians are insufficiently active. Choose to Move is a 3-month community-based physical activity support program originally developed in Canada, co-designed with older adults to enhance motivation and promote social connection. This study aims to adapt, implement, and evaluate Choose to Move in Sydney, Australia, and examine what motivates older adults to participate in such programs. Method This NHMRC-funded implementation study targets adults aged 50 years

Introduction: Multifactorial prevention interventions can reduce hospital falls, however their implementation can be challenging and inconsistent. We aimed to provide evidence to inform the design and implementation of hospital fall prevention programs reflecting the diverse needs and challenges in acute hospitals. Methods: 1) An Intervention Component Analysis (ICA) of 45 hospital falls trials in a Cochrane review update, 2) a qualitative study with 50 hospital staff and patients, and 3) an implementation feasibility study of supported implementation of tailored multicomponent fall prevention

Introduction: Older people from ethnically diverse communities are underrepresented in research, and few programs are specifically developed to address their needs. The MOVE Together: Reduce Falls program was co-designed with older Australian’s from ethnically diverse communities to increase sustained exercise to reduce falls. The program includes physiotherapy sessions, individualised home exercises, behaviour change strategies and culturally adapted education resources. This paper explores learnings from an in-progress pilot trial. Method: Sixty older people at risk of falls from Italian

Introduction: Falls and fragility fractures cost the NHS and Social Care an estimated £4bn each year and with an ageing population, these costs will continue to rise. The 2022 World falls guidelines advocate for proactive falls screening but implementation is challenging because (1) most people do not seek medical help after a non-injurious fall and (2) large-scale screening is both labour-intensive and costly. PROFFS offers a scalable digital solution by automating falls and fracture risk screening, enabling clinicians to prioritise and support those at highest risk. Method: Adults aged