| Study characteristics |
| Methods |
RCT in 1982‐85. Reporting 10‐year follow‐up. |
| Participants |
Setting: Pittsburgh, USA
N = 229 randomised, 198 available for 10‐year follow‐up
Sample: healthy post‐menopausal women (volunteers)
Age (years): at randomisation mean 57; at follow‐up mean 70 (SD 4)
Inclusion criteria: 1 year post menopause; aged 50 and 65
Exclusion criteria: on HRT; unable to walk |
| Interventions |
1. 8‐week training period with organised group walking scheme 2 x per wk. Also encouraged to walk 1 x per wk on their own. Building up to 7 miles per wk total
2. Control: no intervention |
| Outcomes |
1. Number of people falling
Other outcomes reported but not included in this review |
| Duration of the study |
Reporting 10‐year follow‐up |
| Notes |
|
| Risk of bias |
| Bias |
Authors' judgement |
Support for judgement |
| Random sequence generation (selection bias) |
Unclear risk |
Method of randomisation not described |
| 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 implementing the intervention not blind to allocated group, but impact of non‐blinding unclear |
| Blinding of outcome assessment (detection bias)
Falls and fallers |
Low risk |
Quote: "... telephone interviewers remained masked to the original group assignment of the participants until the end of the interview." |
| Incomplete outcome data (attrition bias)
Fallers |
Low risk |
SeeAppendix 3 for method of assessment |
| Risk of bias in recall of falls |
High risk |
Falls in the previous 12 months ascertained by telephone interview |
