iStoppFalls information and communication technologies (ICT) based system to predict and prevent falls
| ISRCTN | ISRCTN15932647 |
|---|---|
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN15932647 |
| Secondary identifying numbers | 287361 |
- Submission date
- 30/01/2014
- Registration date
- 10/02/2014
- Last edited
- 15/02/2016
- Recruitment status
- No longer recruiting
- Overall study status
- Completed
- Condition category
- Injury, Occupational Diseases, Poisoning
Plain English summary of protocol
Background and study aims
The purpose of the iStoppFalls study is to develop, implement and evaluate innovative information and communication technologies (ICT)-based technologies. This programme can easily be integrated into the daily life of older people living at home. iStoppFalls will develop unobtrusive technological solutions for continuous monitoring and prevention of fall risk factors, which are required to coach people in tailored individualized prevention programs, including exercise and education. The emphasis is not on laboratory research but on active implementation of successful fall prevention strategies in the daily life of older people in their own home. The aims of the study are to help to reduce the risk of falls, and thus to improve quality of life of older adults living at home. In addition, an assessment of fall risk is developed and implemented. Therefore, iStoppFalls will offer improved fall prediction and prevention measures, and thus provide a better assessment of fall risks for the elderly living at home.
Who can participate?
Men and women aged 65 and over who are able to stand and walk without a walking aid and who have an internet connection.
What does the study involve?
Participants will initially be expected to complete a pre-assessment test in the lab, whereby they will be required to complete both physical and cognitive measurements. Participants will then start the study and complete the in-built instruments every two weeks. Participants will be randomly allocated to either the intervention group or the control group. The control group will be asked to conduct their regular activities during the course of the study. The intervention group will receive an ICT system comprising of the PC and the Microsoft Kinect console to conduct the iStoppFalls programme on their own home television. The programme comprises exergames with strength and balance exercises. Participants will be advised to carry out a minimum of three sessions on each mode of exergame with 60 minutes on each session. The intensity will be increased individually and progressively by increasing sets and weights in the strength exercises and by increasing difficulty in the balance games. These methods will also minimize the risk of over-or under-exertion. In order to avoid falls during the exercise the participants are able to hold onto one or two chairs. Participants wear the Senior Mobility Monitor (SMM) throughout the exergames and will be advised to wear it the whole day for mobility monitoring and analysis. Both the intervention and control groups will receive educational material. This includes information about fall risk (e.g., general health, falls, fear of falling, eating, medication, environment, emergency plan, exercise, checklists and quiz). After 8 weeks and 4 months the participants will be reassessed in the lab.
What are the possible benefits and risks of participating?
The possible benefits for participating in the study are:
Undertaking regular exercise regimens at home to reduce the individual risk of falling via strength and balance exercises.
Learning about individual fall risk via laboratory assessment, tracing regularly their improvements via system assessment and learning about health and falls via reading the educational material
Receiving feedback about their activity profile based on data collected from the SMM
Participants will be engaging in an innovative form of exercise via technology, which it could be a new experience for them, thus resulting in learning new skills and knowledge about digital game technology (this itself has the potential for the participants to take-up digital games as a means of a hobby).
There are no side effects to the treatment received during the study.
Where is the study run from?
The study is conducted across in Australia and two European sites: Cologne, Germany and Valencia, Spain. The lead centre in Europe is the German Sport University Cologne, Germany.
When is the study starting and how long is it expected to run for?
The study started in January 2014 and will run until August 2014. The study recruitment will last for about 3 months.
Who is funding the study?
European Commission - Collaborative project
Who is the main contact?
Dr Sabine Eichberg
Eichberg@dshs-koeln.de
Contact information
Scientific
Am Sportpark Muengersdorf 6
Cologne
50933
Germany
| Phone | +49 (0)221 49826145 |
|---|---|
| eichberg@dshs-koeln.de |
Study information
| Study design | Multi-centre randomized single-blind controlled trial |
|---|---|
| Primary study design | Interventional |
| Secondary study design | Randomised controlled trial |
| Study setting(s) | Other |
| Study type | Prevention |
| Participant information sheet | Not available in web format, please use the contact details below to request a patient information sheet |
| Scientific title | iStoppFalls ICT based system to predict and prevent falls: a randomized single-blind controlled trial |
| Study acronym | ISF |
| Study objectives | The objectives of the study are: 1. To determine the effects of the intervention on falls risk and factors of falls 2. To improve quality of life for the elderly living at home 3. To evaluate feasibility and adherence to the programme |
| Ethics approval(s) | Ethics Committees, German Sport University Cologne, Germany, 24/09/2013 Ethics Committee, Universitat Politècnica de Valencia, Spain, 25/11/2011 Ethics Committee, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia, 19/12/2013 |
| Health condition(s) or problem(s) studied | Falls and fall risk |
| Intervention | The treatment will last four months with a follow-up of two months. The intervention group will receive an ICT system comprising of the PC, a set top box (STB), a Microsoft Kinect console, an Senior Mobility Monitor (SMM), and a Tablet to conduct the iStoppFalls programme on their own home television. The programme comprises exergames with strength and balance exercises. The Otago exercise programme was adapted for the strength training. The exergames for balance include three games which focus on stepping/walking, leaning and knee bending, as well as additional cognitive components for the dual task paradigm. Participants will be advised to carry out a minimum of three sessions each strength and balance exergame with 60 minutes per session. The intensity will be increased individually and progressively by increasing sets and weights in the strength exercises and by increasing difficulty in the balance games. These methods will also minimize the risk of over-/under-exertion. In order to avoid falls during the exercise the participants are able to hold onto one or two chairs. Participants wearing the SMM throughout the exergames and will be advised to wear it the whole day for mobility monitoring and analysis. Both the intervention and control groups will receive educational material. This includes information about fall risk (e.g., general health, falls, fear of falling, eating, medication, environment, emergency plan, exercise, checklists and quiz). The control group will undergo no exercise programme, but will be asked to conduct their regular activities during the course of the study. Joint/secondary sponsor details: 1. Sabine Eichberg, Institute of Movement and Sport Gerontology, German Sport University Cologne 2. Helios DeRosario, Instituto De Biomecanica De Valencia, Spain 3. Mario Drobics, Austrian Institute of Technology, Austria 4. Janneke Annegarn, Philips Research Europe, Netherlands 5. Nico Kaartinen, Kaasa Solution GmBH, Germany 6. Kim Delbaere, Neuroscience Research Australia, Australia |
| Intervention type | Other |
| Primary outcome measure | 1. Reduction of fall risk by Short-form Physiological Profile Assessment (PPA; Lord, Menz, & Tiedemann, 2003), which includes five validated measures of physiological falls risk (visual contrast sensitivity, postural sway, quadriceps strength, reaction time and lower limb proprioception). 2. Improvement of quality of life by 12-item World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule (WHODAS 2.0; http://www.who.int/classifications/icf/whodasii/en/) and by European Quality of Life-5 Dimensions (EQ-5D; http://www.euroqol.org/). 3. Provide an improved fall prediction and prevention assessment with balance, sit-to-stand from the Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB; Guralnik et al. 1994) and reaction tests adapting for the iStoppFalls system. 4. Improve the prediction of falls (sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value [PPV], negative predictive value [NPV] and total predictive accuracy [TPA]) based on algorithms and modeling. The risk assessment includes general questions (e.g., age, gender), fall-specific questionnaires (e.g., previous falls, medication) and physical tests (e.g., reaction time, balance). 5. Daily life mobility trend and risk indicator by a biomechanical model of exercises and movements based on the kinematics of the population. Measured at baseline, mid-assessment after 2 months, post-assessment after 4 months, and 2 months follow-up. |
| Secondary outcome measures | 1. History of falls by questionnaire and monthly falls calendar. 2. Gait velocity by 4 m walking from the SPPB (Guralnik et al. 1994), and 10 m walking in participants' habitual speed with 2 m for acceleration and deceleration. 3. Muscle strength and power of the lower extremities by sit-to-stand test from the SPPB (Guralnik et al. 1994) and the adaptation for the iStoppFalls system. 4. Functional mobility by Timed up and go test (TUG; Podsiadlo & Richardson, 1991). 5. Reaction time: hand and stepping choice reaction time adapted for the iStoppFalls system. 6. Balance by Maximal Balance Range (MBR; Lord et al., 1996), coordinated stability (CoStab; Lord et al., 1996), adapted balance tests (bipedal, semi-tandem, near tandem, tandem stance) from the SPPB (Guralnik et al. 1994) for the iStoppFalls system. 7. Cognitive functions which include general fluid function by Digit-Symbol-Coding (WAIS-III; Wechsler, 1997), divided and switched attention by Trail Making Test parts A and B Test (TMT A+B; Reitan, 1958) and by Attention Network Test (ANT) on PEBL, inhibition by the Victoria Stroop Test on PEBL, memory and working memory by digits forward and backward (WAIS-III; Wechsler, 1997). 8. Dual task costs by 10 walk + counting backwards by 3, sway + counting backwards by 3, sway + digit forward span. 9. Self-efficacy and fear of falling by Shortened Iconographical-Falls Efficacy Scale (Icon-FES; Delbaere, Smith, & Lord; http://www.neura.edu.au/sites/neura.edu.au/files/page-downloads/Icon-FES_10item.pdf) 10. Daily life activity profile by SMM. 11. Daily life movement quality indicator by SMM. Measured at baseline, mid-assessment after 2 months, post-assessment after 4 months, and 2 months follow-up. |
| Overall study start date | 02/01/2014 |
| Completion date | 15/08/2014 |
Eligibility
| Participant type(s) | Patient |
|---|---|
| Age group | Senior |
| Sex | Both |
| Target number of participants | 100 participants in Europe, 60 participants in Australia |
| Key inclusion criteria | 1. Men and women, aged 65+ years 2. Participants must be able to understand, read and speak German or Spanish, respectively 3. Not cognitively impaired 4. Are able to walk without walking aid 5. Television with HDMI 6. Internet access at home |
| Key exclusion criteria | 1. Acute coronary heart disease 2. Pulmonary embolism ≤6 months 3. Acute infections 4. Severe visual impairment 5. Psychiatric disorders 6. Untreated hypertension 7. Uncontrolled hypertension 8. Myocarditis 9. Bypass surgery ≤6 months 10. Participants with active implants (e.g., implantable defibrillators and pacemakers) 11. Severe neurological disorders: M. Parkinson, dementia, multiple sclerosis 12. Drug or alcohol dependence 13. Large abdominal aortic aneurysm 14. Uncontrolled metabolic diseases 15. Stroke 16. Acute cancer 17. Unstable cardiac disease 18. Arrhythmia 19. Chronic heart failure 20. Pulmonary embolism 21. Pneumonia 22. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) 23. Insufficient visual acuity 24. Insufficient visual aid 25. Colour blindness 26. Insufficient auditory acuity 27. Insufficient auditory aid 28. Valvular defect 29. Severe motor impairment 30. Anaemia 31. Renal insufficiency 32. Intermittent claudication 33. Osteoporosis 34. Inoperable enlarging aortic aneurysm 35. Malignant ventricular arrhythmia related to exertion 36. Severe aortic stenosis 37. End stage congestive heart failure 38. Other rapidly terminal illness 39. Severe behavioural agitation in response to exercise 40. Unstable angina 41. Uncontrolled cardiac failure 42. Severe aortic stenosis 43. Uncontrolled hypertension or grade 3 (severe) hypertension (e.g., blood pressure 180 mmHg [systolic] or 110 mmHg [diastolic]) 44. Symptomatic hypotension <90/60 mmHg 45. Acute infection or fever, or feeling unwell (including, but not limited to, acute myocarditis or pericarditis) 46. Resting tachycardia or arrhythmias 47. Diabetes with poor blood glucose control (e.g., blood glucose level <6 mmol/L or >15 mmol/L |
| Date of first enrolment | 02/01/2014 |
| Date of final enrolment | 15/08/2014 |
Locations
Countries of recruitment
- Australia
- Germany
- Spain
Study participating centre
50933
Germany
Sponsor information
University/education
Institute of Information Systems
Hölderlinstr. 3
Siegen
57076
Germany
| Phone | +49 (0)271 740 3019 |
|---|---|
| rainer.wieching@uni-siegen.de | |
| Website | http://www.wiwi.uni-siegen.de/wirtschaftsinformatik/ |
"ROR" |
https://ror.org/02azyry73 |
Funders
Funder type
Government
No information available
Results and Publications
| Intention to publish date | |
|---|---|
| Individual participant data (IPD) Intention to share | No |
| IPD sharing plan summary | Not provided at time of registration |
| Publication and dissemination plan | Not provided at time of registration |
| IPD sharing plan |
Study outputs
| Output type | Details | Date created | Date added | Peer reviewed? | Patient-facing? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Protocol article | protocol | 20/08/2014 | Yes | No | |
| Results article | results | 27/11/2015 | Yes | No |
Editorial Notes
15/02/2016: Publication reference added.
