Economic Health assessment of case management in a falls prevention program for older adults: a randomized controlled clinical trial

Abstract

Falls prevention in older adults never were so important due to the high rates of these accidents in Brazil and in the world, which cause loss of functional capacity and independence of the elderly, which can lead to hospitalizations and even death. In addition, falls are responsible for high network expenses public and private health. In this perspective, feasibility health cost studies in prevention and monitoring programs, these accidents are increasingly necessary. Objectives: Perform the economic assessment of cases management in a falls prevention program with older adults in the community. Methods: This is a single-blind randomized controlled clinical trial. The volunteers will be properly assessed and divided into two groups: Control Group (without intervention) and Intervention Group (with 16 cases management weeks). The elderly will first be assessed for the risk of falls. The case managers should accompany the elderly and propose an intervention for the factors of risk of falls identified in the evaluations and to follow them during the execution of this plan, besides offering two house visits for the recognition of housing hazards and if possible, its modifications. In addition to management, the older adult will included in a physical activity program twice a week, during the intervention period and will be phone monitored weekly. Two instruments will be used, the EQ-5D for cost analysis and FRAQ-Brasil, to assess the perception of the risk of falls in the elderly. The intervention group will get greater economic viability during the falls prevention program. At the end, the members will be reassessed in relation to the fall factors to have a greater knowledge about the falls factors risk, also the Incremental Net Present Value (NPV incr) will be calculated and the risk of falls. Expected results: It is expected that the intervention group achieve greater economic viability during the prevention program of falls. In addition, the elderly are expected to have a greater knowledge about the risk factors for falls at the end of the intervention.