Self-administered Dual-task Training for Reducing Falls Among the Older Adults

NCT05533333 | Unknown

• 1 other identifier: 0034640
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 190
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

Evidence supports that dual-task training reduces fall risk among older adults. However, the current framework for preventive care for fall prevention in Hong Kong does not include formal cognitive training, while little to no emphasis is placed on combining physical and cognitive training (dual tasking) to prevent falls. Secondly, the healthcare costs for eligible Hong Kong citizens are subsidised by between 81 and 97% of the actual treatment cost. Therefore, there is a demanding need for cost-effective treatment to reduce the country's' economic burden. This project will assist policymakers and clinicians in recommending cost-effective treatments for fall prevention.

Conditions

Older Adults

Keywords

Falls; Older adults; Dual-task; Balance

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Number of falls

  The number of falls will be recorded from the baseline using each participant's digital diary interface. Participants will be instructed to record the number of falls on a weekly basis. The baseline assessment of falls will be calculated as the number of falls over the past 3 months from the day of study enrolment

  Change score at week 12 and week 36

Secondary Outcomes (7)

• Dual-task cost of balance performance will be assessed for the TUG

  Change score at week 12 and week 36

• Dual-task cost of cognitive performance will be assessed for the TUG

  Change score at week 12 and week 36

• Berg Balance Scale (BBS)

  Change score at week 12 and week 36

• Falls Efficacy Scale- International (FES-I)

  Change score at week 12 and week 36

• 12-item Short Form Health Survey (SF-12)

  Change score at week 12 and week 36

Study Arms (2)

Self administered dual-task training

EXPERIMENTAL

The exercise intervention will continue for 9 months, beginning with 12 weeks of training accompanied by workshops to teach the exercises. Experimental group: sDTT group participants will be instructed to perform 10 minutes of warm-up, 40 minutes of dual-task training and 10 minutes of cool-down exercises. The size of the workshop will be limited to 10 participants. The sDTT programme includes performing a selection of six cognitive tasks during walking, the sit-to-stand movement, heel and toe raising, stepping, tandem standing and walking and multidirectional reaching tasks. The cognitive tasks will include mental tracking, working memory, auditory cues and verbal fluency tasks. Participants will be given the freedom to mix and match the physical and cognitive tasks to make them more challenging.

Behavioral: Falls prevention exercises

Self-administered singletask training

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

Control group: The self-administered single-task training group will receive 10 minutes of warm-up, 20 minutes of physical tasks (as outlined above) and 20 minutes of cognitive tasks (as outlined above) followed by 10 minutes of cool-down exercises. Participants will be instructed to perform the exercises for the same dosage as the experimental group. After a 6-month follow-up period, the control group will receive two complimentary sessions of self-administered dual-task training.

Behavioral: Falls prevention exercises

Interventions

Falls prevention exercises BEHAVIORAL

A dual-task activity involves the simultaneous performance of two activities involving physical and cognitive tasks.

Also known as: Balance exercises

Self administered dual-task training; Self-administered singletask training

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 65 Years+
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• Community-dwelling
• Ambulant with or without the use of a walking assistive device
• Have experienced at least one fall over the past 6 months and
• Obtained a mini-mental state examination score of ≥ 24 (indicating the absence of cognitive impairment).

You may not qualify if:

• Have been diagnosed with dementia or Alzheimer's disease,
• Have a previous history of psychiatric illness
• Are only able to walk with hand-held support
• Have a severe visual impairment that prevents exercise participation.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• The Hong Kong Polytechnic University: lead
• The University of Hong Kong: collaborator
• National University of Singapore: collaborator

Study Sites (1)

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University

Hung Hom, Kowloon, 00, Hong Kong

RECRUITING

Related Publications (1)

• Khan MJ, Fong KNK, Wong TW, Tsang WW, Chen CH, Chan WC, Winser S. Self-administered dual-task training reduces balance deficits and falls among community-dwelling older adults: a multicentre parallel-group randomised controlled trial with economic evaluation protocol. BMJ Open. 2025 Jun 24;15(6):e089915. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2024-089915.

  PMID: 40555445 DERIVED

Central Study Contacts

Stanley J Winser, PhD

CONTACT

+85227666746; stanley.j.winser@polyu.edu.hk

Jobair MD Khan, MSCPT

CONTACT

+85265805636; mdjobair.khan@connect.polyu.hk

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: SINGLE
• Who Masked: OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
• Masking Details: A person not involved in the study (student helper #1) will randomise the participants using a random number list prepared by Dr Chen Huijun Cynthia (statistician) before the baseline assessment. One HK-registered physiotherapist (RA1) will be recruited to conduct workshops on teaching the exercise interventions to all participants. One research postgraduate (RPg) student will be recruited to conduct all of the other methodological procedures involved in the project. Assessments will be performed by an existing postgraduate student of the PI, who is blind to treatment condition. An economic evaluation with healthcare utility estimation will be performed by Dr Chen Huijun Cynthia. The treatment allocation coding will be unblinded following the completion of the study.
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR

Model Details: Assessor-blinded, multi-centre parallel-group RCT with economic evaluation

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: September 5, 2022
• First Posted: September 9, 2022
• Study Start: December 1, 2022
• Primary Completion: June 1, 2024
• Study Completion: December 1, 2024
• Last Updated: March 15, 2024

Record last verified: 2023-11

Locations

HK (1)