Evaluation of the Frails' Fall Efficacy by Comparing Treatments (EFFECT) on reducing fall and fear of fall in moderately frail older adults: study protocol for a randomised control trial

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Falls are common in frail older adults and often result in injuries and hospitalisation. The Nintendo^®Wii™ is an easily available exercise modality in the community which has been shown to improve lower limb strength and balance. However, not much is known on the effectiveness of the Nintendo^®Wii™ to improve fall efficacy and reduce falls in a moderately frail older adult. Fall efficacy is the measure of fear of falling in performing various daily activities. Fear contributes to avoidance of activities and functional decline.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>This randomised active-control trial is a comparison between the Nintendo WiiActive programme against standard gym-based rehabilitation of the older population. Eighty subjects aged above 60, fallers and non-fallers, will be recruited from the hospital outpatient clinic. The primary outcome measure is the Modified Falls Efficacy Scale and the secondary outcome measures are self-reported falls, quadriceps strength, walking agility, dynamic balance and quality of life assessments.</p> <p>Discussions</p> <p>The study is the first randomised control trial using the Nintendo Wii as a rehabilitation modality investigating a change in fall efficacy and self-reported falls. Longitudinally, the study will investigate if the interventions can successfully reduce falls and analyse the cost-effectiveness of the programme.</p> <p>Trial registration</p> <p>Australia and New Zealand Clinical Trials Register (ANZCTR): <a href="http://www.anzctr.org.au/ACTRN12610000576022.aspx">ACTRN12610000576022</a></p

A Pascal interface for data validation of CDS/ISIS database records

CDS/ISIS, an information storage and retrieval package produced and distributed by UNESCO, is widely used in Europe and many developing countries. It supports most of the requirements for designing bibliographic / textual databases. The CDS/ISlS Pascal programming facility can be used to create end-user interfaces for any specific additional requirements. The standard CDS/ISIS package does not provide for data validation with respect to subfielded fields and to check whether any mandatory fields have been missed (left blank) during data entry. This paper discusses the need for data validation and ope-ration of a CDS/ISIS Pascal interface designed for data validation of CDS/ISIS databases. The programmes enable specification of mandatory fields, validation of such fields and inadvertant omission of subfield delimiters in the master records, and obtaining online help about the use of the interface programmes