Supporting the spread of a falls prevention programme
Health Innovation South West supported the spread of a falls prevention innovation in Devon, leveraging research and coaching, resulting in 30 new classes by January 2024 since project inception in 2021.
Health Innovation South West has been instrumental in spreading an exercise-based falls prevention innovation, FaME, across Devon in partnership with NIHR ARC South West Peninsula at the University of Exeter.
FaME, a six-month group exercise programme targeting strength and balance in individuals 65 and older, has proven to reduce falls, enhance confidence, and mitigate fear-of-falling.
Researchers at the University of Nottingham, Manchester, Exeter, and Glasgow Caledonian, wanting to broaden FaME’s availability and ensure quality delivery, developed the FaME implementation toolkit, guiding set-up, delivery, and quality assurance. Health Innovation South West provided spread training and coaching to the research teams, facilitating programme dissemination across Devon alongside Health Innovation Manchester in Greater Manchester.
The researchers, along with a commissioner and current provider of FaME in the county, attended Health Innovation South West’s Spread Academy in October 2021, delivered in partnership with the Billions Institute. Since then, HISW has provided workshops and coaching on spread and communications.
The National FaME Implementation Team (N-FIT) emerged as part of sustaining FaME’s spread. A June 2023 event highlighted FaME’s success, fostering regional collaboration for further dissemination.
The dissemination plan was refined for nationwide expansion before the project concluded in March 2024.
- Research has shown that FaME results in fewer falls, improved confidence, and reduced fear-of-falling.
- As of January 2024, there has been an increase of 30 FaME classes in Devon with two more in the pipeline since the project started in 2021.
