1. Improving Falls Clinic client engagement in falls prevention activities National Ageing Research Institute with Royal Melbourne Hospital; Royal Park Campus, Bundoora Extended Care Centre and Barwon Health Falls Clinics

2. Funding Safety Innovations In Practice Program (MK III), Australian Safety and Quality Council.

3. Background Previous research (MDS project, NARI, 2004) indicated varying levels of compliance across client groups and types of interventions Overall 17% of interventions were not undertaken and a further 19% partially undertaken 38% of clients not returning for follow-up assessments Lack of documentation regarding why interventions were not undertaken

4. Background cont.. Also building on the project “Achieving Health Promotion Behaviour Change Among Older Victorians” (NARI, 2004) that identified the importance of health services working in partnership with clients to set meaningful, relevant and achievable goals.

5. Project aim This project aims to identify strategies to improve engaging Falls Clinic clients in activities identified as likely to minimise future risk of falling. Evidence of achieving this goal would include an increase in the proportion of clients undertaking interventions to reduce falls risks and returning for follow-up assessments.

6. Clinics involved: Royal Melbourne Hospital; Royal Park Campus (Previously MECRS) Bundoora Extended Care Centre Barwon Health With input from: Consumer Health Forum of Australia Advisory group including clients who have been to a Falls Clinic

7. Methodology Surveys to clients and carers on waiting lists Surveys to clients and carers after first assessment Clinic staff to record reasons for not undertaking recommendations as discussed at follow-up assessments Telephone interviews to clients who miss follow-up assessments

8. Time frame Short term project due for completion in June 2005 4 month data collection period Data collection to commence in February Data collection completed by May

9. Expected outcomes Strategies for engaging client involvement in Falls Clinic practice that can be incorporated into existing models of care and funding Surveys and telephone prompts for Clinic staff to use for evaluating their current practice Report with key findings Outcomes promoted through Falls Clinic Coalition Outcomes relevant for other Clinics and out- patient services

10. Further information For further details please contact Kirsten Black: k.black@nari.unimelb.edu.au