Home safety modifications to prevent falls in older adults in Guangzhou
Guangzhou Community Elderly Fall Prevention Appropriate Technology Promotion Project
NA · Guangzhou Center for Disease Control and Prevention · NCT07458958
This project will try simple home changes like anti-slip mats, better lighting, and minor hazard fixes to see if they reduce falls among community-dwelling people aged 60–80 in Guangzhou over 12 months.
Quick facts
| Phase | NA |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Enrollment | 320 (estimated) |
| Ages | 60 Years to 80 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | Guangzhou Center for Disease Control and Prevention (other gov) |
| Locations | 1 site (Guangzhou, Guangdong) |
| Trial ID | NCT07458958 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
This is a randomized controlled trial enrolling 320 community-dwelling older adults in Guangzhou to test a program of home environment assessment and targeted modifications. Participants receive practical changes such as anti-slip mats, improved lighting, and other low-cost fixes, with follow-up for 12 months to track falls. The study also collects data on costs and scalability and uses multi-level stakeholder collaboration and quality control to support implementation. Results will inform whether this approach is an effective, affordable option for wider community fall prevention.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Community-dwelling adults aged 60–80 who can walk 50 meters unaided (with or without a cane), have fallen in the past two years or are worried about falling, plan to stay at their current address for 12 months, and can communicate and complete basic written tasks.
Not a fit: People with acute illness, recent acute exacerbations of chronic disease, significant hearing/vision/cognitive impairments, severe neurological or psychiatric disease, or those who are institutionalized or unlikely to remain at the same address are not likely to benefit from this program.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the program could lower fall rates and related injuries while offering a low-cost, scalable model to make homes safer for older adults.
How similar studies have performed: Prior randomized trials and meta-analyses of home-modification programs have shown reductions in fall risk among high-risk older adults, though findings on cost-effectiveness and scalability vary by setting.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Between 60 and 80 years old (inclusive). * Community-dwelling. * Planning to reside at the current address for the next 12 months. * Able to walk 50 meters unaided (can use a cane). * Experienced one or more falls in the past 2 years, OR Is "very worried" or "somewhat worried" about falling (even without a fall history). * Willing to participate in the 12-month fall prevention program and follow-up assessments. * Possesses basic literacy skills (equivalent to elementary school level or above) and is capable of normal communication with the investigators, as judged by the staff. * In a stable health condition to participate, as determined by the investigator. Exclusion Criteria: * Having an acute disease or an acute episode of a chronic disease. * Having hearing, vision, or cognitive impairments, or self-reported neurological or psychiatric diseases (e.g., epilepsy, dementia) that prevent normal communication and learning. * Self-reported serious diseases (e.g., cardiac, cerebral, renal, hepatic, respiratory, or hematologic systems) and judged by a doctor or on-site assessor as intolerant to physical activity. * Diagnosed with conditions that explicitly affect balance function (e.g., vestibular disorders, cerebellar system lesions, vertigo, Ménière's disease). * Requires a wheelchair or assistance from another person to walk. * Likely to move away from the current residence or be absent for an extended period within the next 6 months. * Unwilling to accept the 12-month follow-up.
Where this trial is running
Guangzhou, Guangdong
- Guangzhoucenter Fordisease Control and Prevention（Guangzhou Health Supervision Institute） — Guangzhou, Guangdong, China (RECRUITING)
Study contacts
- Study coordinator: Run Doctor wang, Phd
- Email: runwang@i.smu.edu.cn
- Phone: +8619865182576
How to participate
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
- Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.
Conditions: Fall, Old Age, Cost-Effectiveness Analysis, Home Hazard Assessment and Modification, RCT, Community-Dwelling Older Adults, Fall Prevention