| Study characteristics |
| Methods |
RCT. Pre‐randomisation prior to consent, from a schedule of participants in a previous study |
| Participants |
Setting: Australia
N = 197
Sample: women recruited from a schedule from a previous epidemiologic study. Fitness level not defined.
Age (years): mean 71.6 (SD 5.4), range 60 to 85
Inclusion criteria: living independently in the community
Exclusion criteria: unable to use English |
| Interventions |
1. Intervention: exercise classes (warm‐up, conditioning, stretching, relaxation) 1 hour, 2 x per wk for 52 wks
2. Control: no intervention |
| Outcomes |
1. Rate of falls
2. Number of people falling |
| Duration of the study |
1 year |
| Notes |
|
| Risk of bias |
| Bias |
Authors' judgement |
Support for judgement |
| Random sequence generation (selection bias) |
Unclear risk |
Quote: "randomly assigned" |
| Allocation concealment (selection bias) |
Unclear risk |
Insufficient information to permit judgement |
| Blinding of participants and personnel (performance bias)
All outcomes |
Unclear risk |
Participants and personnel not blind to allocated group but impact of non‐blinding unclear |
| Blinding of outcome assessment (detection bias)
Falls and fallers |
High risk |
Falls reported by participants who were aware of their group allocation. Assessors not blind to treatment status. |
| Incomplete outcome data (attrition bias)
Falls |
Low risk |
SeeAppendix 3 for method of assessment |
| Incomplete outcome data (attrition bias)
Fallers |
Low risk |
SeeAppendix 3 for method of assessment |
| Risk of bias in recall of falls |
Unclear risk |
Interval recall. Fall ascertainment questionnaires sent out every 2 months. Telephone call if questionnaire not returned. |
