Knowledge translation of falls prevention strategies in people with dementia and their carers: What works?

Knowledge translation of falls prevention strategies in people with dementia and their carers: What works? - 2010 AAR/DCRC-CC Joint PhD Research Scholarship

Ms Claudia Meyer

Research Centre DCRC Carers and Consumers

Partner Institution Alzheimer's Australia

Project Description

Given the projected increase of people with dementia in Australia over the coming years, there is increasing recognition of the social and health consequences for people with dementia and their carers. To date the increased focus on translation of research into practice for formal carers of people with dementia has not extended to informal carers.Translation of research into practice for carers is important, given around 85% of people with a disability receive informal care.

There is substantial literature regarding falls prevention among older people and a small, but growing body of literature for those with dementia, but a gap in knowledge exists for translating falls prevention knowledge between health professionals and people with dementia and their carers to affect behaviour change.

This project aims to evaluate three methods of translating falls prevention knowledge between health professionals and people with dementia and their carers to achieve desired behaviour change. The project will include a literature review, focus groups and one-to-one interviews to provide information required for the intervention phase.

The intervention phase will utilise the best evidence for knowledge translation regarding falls prevention strategies to effect behaviour change within individuals according to the Prochaska and DiClemente's Stages of Change model.