Perspectives of Australian GPs on tailoring fall risk management: a qualitative study
Lynette Mackenzie A K , Jeannine Liddle B , Lindy M. Clemson C , Amy C. W. Tan D , Meryl Lovarini A , Sabrina W. Pit E F , Roslyn G. Poulos G , Chris Roberts H , Constance D. Pond
I and Karen Willis J
A Discipline of Occupational Therapy, School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia.
B Ageing Work and Health Research Unit, School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia.
C Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia.
D School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia.
E School of Medicine, Western Sydney University, Sydney, NSW 2751, Australia.
F University Centre for Rural Health, The University of Sydney, Lismore, NSW 2480, Australia.
G School of Public Health and Community Medicine, UNSW, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia.
H Discipline of General Practice, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia.
I Discipline of General Practice, Faculty of Health, University of Newcastle, NSW 2308, Australia.
J School of Allied Health, Human Services and Sport, La Trobe University, Vic. 3086, Australia.
K Corresponding author. Email: Lynette.Mackenzie@sydney.edu.au
Australian Journal of Primary Health 27(5) 409-415 https://doi.org/10.1071/PY21022
Submitted: 5 February 2021 Accepted: 4 May 2021 Published: 13 August 2021
Abstract
Falls among older people are highly prevalent, serious and costly, and translation of evidence about falls prevention needs to occur urgently. GPs can identify older people at risk of falling and put preventative measures in place before a fall. Because GPs are key to identifying older people at risk of falls and managing falls risk, this study explored how GPs adapted to the iSOLVE (Integrated SOLutions for sustainable falls preVEntion) process to embed evidence-based falls prevention strategies within primary care, and whether and how they changed their practice. A theoretically informed qualitative study using normalisation process theory was conducted in parallel to the iSOLVE trial to elicit GPs’ views about the iSOLVE process. Data were coded and a thematic analysis of interview transcripts was conducted using constant comparison between the data and themes as they developed. In all, 24 of 32 eligible GPs (75%) from general practices located in the North Sydney Primary Health Network, Australia, were interviewed. Six themes were identified: (1) making it easy to ask the iSOLVE questions; (2) internalising the process; (3) integrating the iSOLVE into routine practice; (4) addressing assumptions about patients and fall prevention; (5) the degree of change in practice; and (6) contextual issues influencing uptake. The iSOLVE project focused on practice change, and the present study indicates that practice change is possible. How GPs addressed falls prevention in their practice determined the translation of evidence into everyday practice. Support tools for falls prevention must meet the needs of GPs and help with decision making and referral. Fall prevention can be integrated into routine GP practice through the iSOLVE process to tailor fall risk management.
Trial Registry. This trial was registered with the Australian New Zealand Clinical Trial Registry (www.anzctr.org.au; Trial ID: ACTRN12615000401550).
Keywords: accidental falls, aged, allied health personnel, community health services, family practice, qualitative research.
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