Fall Prevention Bingo: Effects of a Novel Community-based Education Tool on Older Adults Knowledge and Readiness to Reduce Risks for Falls

ABSTRACT

Background

Fall prevention education can increase knowledge of fall risks and promote behavior changes to help reduce the incidence of falls among older adults. Fall Prevention Bingo (FPB) was created as an engaging tool to deliver fall prevention education to older adults. Purpose: To evaluate the effects of FPB on older adults’ knowledge of fall risks, their readiness to make health behavior changes, and their attitudes toward reducing personal risks for falls. Methods: A total of 110 community-dwelling older adults (mean age: 72.0 ± 10.2 years) participated in the study across 11 senior or community centers in St. Louis, Missouri, USA. Results: Knowledge of fall risk behaviors increased after playing FPB (p =.007). A ceiling effect occurred when measuring readiness to change. Participants reported that FPB was informative and interactive. Discussion: FPB is a fun and engaging educational tool that can be used to improve knowledge of fall risks among older adults. A ceiling effect obtained from the Stages of Change Score indicated that most participants had already made behavior changes to reduce risks for falls. Translation to Health Education Practice: FPB can be an effective method to deliver fall prevention education in community settings.

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Acknowledgments

The authors are grateful for the helpful staff of the senior centers and the older adults who participated in Fall Prevention Bingo, as well as the occupational therapy graduate students who assisted with the implementation of the study.

Disclosure statement

The authors declare no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and publication of this article.

Additional information

Funding

The authors disclose receipt of the following financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article: research reported in this publication was supported by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development under award number [MOHHU0024].