Health Promotion Project Plan: Falls Prevention in Western Australia

This report presents a health promotion project plan focused on preventing falls in Western Australia. It begins by defining falls and highlighting their significant impact as a major cause of injury and mortality, particularly among older adults. The report provides statistical data on the incidenc...Read More

Running Head: Health Promotion Project Plan: Falls Prevention in Western Australia
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Word count (1620, not including references)
Health Promotion Project Plan: Falls Prevention in Western Australia
Name
Institution

Health Promotion Project Plan: Falls Prevention in Western Australia 2
Health Promotion Project Plan: Falls in Western Australia
Health Issue and Rationale
Introduction
According to the World Health Organization (W.H.O), a fall is illustrated as an
occurrence leading people to come to rest unintentionally on the ground, floor or from a
higher place to a lower place. Falls in Western Australia has been ranked as the fourth most
common cause of community death at eleven percent and also the second most source of
community injury hospitalisation at thirty-one percent.
Effects of a fall
In essence, many fall victims face various medical issues ranging from suffering little
or no injuries and at worst scenarios facing death. Falls inflict physical injuries like bruises,
scratches, haematomas, lacerations, breakages and intracranial blood loss. (HillMc, Phail
Waldron, 2015). In an event where a victim of fall does not have a physical injury, the fall
may instil fear thus result in self – enacted limitation of activity and also start a series of
lessening function ability.
Falls in Western Australia in a serious health problem since according to a study
about people admitted in hospitals due to falls showed that cases due to falls doubled up from
0.7 million patient days (from 199 to 2000) to 1.4 million patient days ( from 2010 - 2011),
( Paul, Ramsay and O'Rourke, 2015). In total falls have been responsible for a total of
585,532 fall cases between the year 2000 and 2008. These facts show that something should
be done in order to prevent falls.
Cost due to falls hospital care
Between years 2000 to 2008, the overall rate of hospital bills resulting from falls was
six hundred and seventeen million dollars which is equal to an average of sixty-eight million
dollars per year. A recent study shows that the Western Australian health system will use an

Health Promotion Project Plan: Falls Prevention in Western Australia 3
approximate of 174 million dollars in the year 2021. This amount, however, does not include
the costs related to effective prevention and lower treatment costs. (Hoffman, Hays and
Shapiro, 2017). It is estimated that there will be a massive increase in population that is sixty-
five years old and above in Australia thus calling for increased demand for health services
associated with falls (Lukaszyk, Harvey and Tiedemann, 2016). This increased demand will
have major impacts by the year 2051 where total health costs will be estimated to get to 1,375
million dollars per annum, 886,000 extra bed days and 3,320 extra nursing home places.
Figure 1: bar graph showing costs inflicted by fall injuries in Western Australia
(Government of West Australia Department of Health)

Health Promotion Project Plan: Falls Prevention in Western Australia 4
Target group
Age and Sex
According to trends in people admitted in hospitals due to fall over the period of
2002-03 to 2012-2013 in Australia, it showed that women who were aged sixty-five years or
older were more than men who were hospitalised for the same reason. (Anderson, Dolansky
and Damato, 2015). Women consisted of sixty-eight percent of the total cases reported in the
year 2012 to 2013 representing a statistics of 3,346 per 100,000 population compared to
2,221 per 100,000 population of cases related to males aged sixty-five years and above.
Cases involving falls increased rapidly with increase with age in both the males and females
with the highest number of cases reported for people aged ninety-five years and above (Tzeng
and Yin, 2015). The statistics collected in the year 2012-2013 indicated that there were 149
cases per 1,000 populations in people above ninety-five years.
Figure 2: Graph showing age group against reported cases of fall injuries per one hundred
thousand populations.

Health Promotion Project Plan: Falls Prevention in Western Australia 5
There has been a significant change in fall injury cases over the years 2002-03 to
2012-13 for men and women with sixty-five years and above (Barker, Morello and Wolfe,
2016). The total increase for both men and women was 2.8 % per year whereas while
upholding minimal fall cases, men fall cases had increased in rates by 3.7% per year
compared to women 2.6% per year.
Behavioural Theory
Behavioural theory effectively addresses the issue of fall prevention in Western
Australia. The health of individuals is greatly affected by some health behaviours such as
having frequent physical activities. Several recommended examples of physical activities
include; aerobic, muscle strengthening, flexibility and balance exercises. For people who are
sixty-five years and above are advised to practice and attend balance and training programs
since they are very effective in reducing the risk of falling, maintaining mobility and
retaining autonomy. These physical activities have not been put into consideration by many
old adults and only a few of them try to practice the balance/strength regimens regularly
(Morris, Brand and Redfern, 2014). This trend calls for a more comprehensive and effective
program which will encourage the old adults to partake these physical activities. There is also
a need to develop strategies so as to encourage participation over a longer term hence helping
the old adults prone to having injuries due to falls.
One of the best ways of introducing the behaving of partaking in physical activities is
to embed the physical activities in their day to day activities. It is evident that many old adults
have minimal or no physical functioning thus it is advisable to introduce simple and low-
intensity activities in their daily activities. This technique leads to installing a behaviour of
engagement hence improve the old adult's health. Behaviour becomes habitual if individuals
can carry out activities automatically. This is done in perfection, efficiently, unawares and
without control.

Health Promotion Project Plan: Falls Prevention in Western Australia 6
Risks & Contributing Factors
It is important to note that falls are not inevitable due to old age. Fall risk factors are
things that accelerate the chance of a person falling. These risks include behavioural,
environmental or behavioural factors. People all over the world and in particular in Western
Australia should understand these risk factors as a way of reducing falls in older adults.
Researchers around the world have recognised fall risk factors and employed Randomized
Controlled Trials (RCT) to test fall interventions. RCTs are helpful in gauging interventions
effectiveness (Kamińska, Brodowski and Karakiewicz, 2015). The outcomes of these studies
reveal that by minimising the risk factors, falls are significantly reduced amongst community-
dwelling adults.
Main risk factors include:
Muscle weakness
Chronic health conditions like arthritis
Vision loss
Inactivity
Alcohol abuse
Poor lighting
Poorly designed public spaces
Clutter and tripping hazards

Health Promotion Project Plan: Falls Prevention in Western Australia 7
Risk Contributing Factor Template
Predisposing Enabling Reinforcing
Behavioural risk
factor
Alcohol use In activity Standing on a chair
in place of a step
stool
Environmental risk
factor
Poor lighting Clutter and tripping
hazards
Poorly designing of
public places
Environmental risk
factor
Poor infrastructure Lack of stair railings Having a shower
with no grab bars
Behavioural risk
factor
smoking Lack of physical
activities
Not having proper
gear used for
climbing

Running Head: Health Promotion Project Plan: Falls Prevention in Western Australia 8
Project Plan Template ( smartsheet Inc.)
Project Title
FALL PREVENT PROGRAM IN WESTERN AUSTRALIA ( FPPWA)
Health Issue and Target Group Risk factors (Prioritised
four)
Goal
Health Issue or Concern:
Falls Injuries In Western Australia
Target Group:
Older People Above Sixty Five
Years Old
Alcohol Abuse
Poor Lighting
Poor Infrastructure
Smoking
To Minimise The Risk Of Falls And Fall Associated
Injury Thus Helping People In Living A Healthy Life
Even In Old Age
Objectives Strategies
Meet The Expected Western
Australia Health commitments to
reduce falls by using useful
recommendations and strategies
 Have a population that is healthy and robust - enhanced by supporting
programs that improve physical activities
Assist all relevant authorities
(reseachers, medical practioners
and policy makers) in coordinating
all laid down programs
 Make sure all fall prevention interventions are followed- can be achieved by
screening of target group at various points for example in schools, hospitals
and any primary care
To come up with a goal in order to
help in prevention of future falls
 Educate the public through various means of communications- encouraging
the use of health messages, resources and education tools.
(Morris,Menz,McGinley and Huxham, 2015)
To help uncover various risk
factors leading to falls
 Make sure the findings various research are put in practice - accomplished
by improving access to effective treatment

Health Promotion Project Plan: Falls Prevention in Western Australia 9
Time Line and Expenses to Be Used
The project plan is expected to last for up to 12 months and use approximately 50,000 dollars
Task Jan Feb March April May June July August Sept Oct Nov Dec
Purchase of research
materials
1000
$
--------
-
4000 $ 3800 $
Lunch expenses 300 $ 300 $ 300 $ 300 $ 300 $ 300 $ 300 $ 300 $ 300 $ 300 $ 300 $ 300 $
Transport expenses 200 $ 200 $ 200 $ 200 $ 200 $ 200 $ 200 $ 200 $ 200 $ 200 $ 200 $ 200 $
Accommodation fees 500 $ 500 $ 500 $ 500 $ 500 $ 500 $ 500 $ 500 $ 500 $ 500 $ 500 $ 500 $
Consultation fees 100 $ 100 $ 100 $ 100 $ 100 $ 100 $ 100 $ 100 $ 100 $ 100 $ 100 $ 100 $
Printing expenses 200 $ 200 $ 300 $ 300 $ 300 $ 300 $ 300 $ 300 $ 300 $ 300 $ 300 $ 300 $
Other expenses 300 $ 300 $ 200 $ 200 $ 200 $ 200 $ 200 $ 200 $ 200 $ 200 $ 200 $ 200 $

Running Head: Health Promotion Project Plan: Falls Prevention in Western Australia
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Conclusion
Falls prevention in Western Australia is an issue that requires great attention since
it is becoming a menace in the area. Relevant authorities should intervene on the issue and
offer necessary support and proper funding for research works. This is because the amount of
money to be spent during the research is minimum as compared to the hospital bills paid in
medication. The strategies discussed in this project plan if implemented will be of great help
in preventing future incidences of injuries or fatalities caused by falling in Western Australia.

Running Head: Health Promotion Project Plan: Falls Prevention in Western Australia
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References
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Barker, A. L., Morello, R. T., Wolfe, R., Brand, C. A., Haines, T. P., Hill, K. D., ... &
Sherrington, C. (2016). 6-PACK programme to decrease fall injuries in acute
hospitals: cluster randomised controlled trial. bmj, 352, h6781.
Growdon, M. E., Shorr, R. I., & Inouye, S. K. (2017). The tension between promoting
mobility and preventing falls in the hospital. JAMA internal medicine, 177(6), 759-
760.
Harvey, L., Mitchell, R., Brodaty, H., Draper, B., & Close, J. (2016). Differing trends in fall-
related fracture and non-fracture injuries in older people with and without dementia.
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Health Promotion Project Plan: Falls Prevention in Western Australia 12
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