Physical and Occupational Therapy Practice Improvement Following Interprofessional Evidence-Based Falls Prevention Training.

Aims: Evaluate changes in physical therapy (PT) and occupational therapy (OT) practice following evidence-based practice (EBP) interprofessional modules that teach assessments and interventions to reduce falls in community-dwelling older adults.

Methods: Medical records of post-fall patients in three Programs of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) sites were analyzed to assess differences in documented falls and the OT and PT use of EBP assessment and interventions implemented following fall prevention training.

Results: In training year 1, PT demonstrated a 34.6% practice improvement in risk assessments performed (z=3.0, p<0.005). In training year 2, PT demonstrated a 66.7% practice change in the implementation of EBP interventions (z=2.1, p<0.05) and OT demonstrated a 22.2% practice improvement in the implementation of recommended EBP interventions (z=2.0, p<0.05). In training year 3, OT achieved a 6.8% increase in the execution of home environment modifications (z=2.0, p<0.05), and PT demonstrated a 23.3% practice improvement in the implementation of recommended EBP interventions (z=3.1, p<0.005).

Conclusion: The delivery of EBP assessment and intervention training modules for falls prevention resulted in PT and OT practice changes and improved adherence to published guidelines.