Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42544291›Full record

ArticleDelaware journal of public health2026

Identifying Barriers to Fall Prevention for Community-Dwelling Older Adults in Delaware:: A Qualitative Study.

Margaret Gulledge, Jolaolu Jimoh, Gianna Clemente, Tina Lopez

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Delaware journal of public health, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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0citing papers in PubMed
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1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

4 authors.

Margaret GulledgeAssistant Professor, Occupational Therapy Program, Delaware State University.
Jolaolu JimohAssistant Professor, Occupational Therapy Program, Delaware State University.
Gianna ClementeAssistant Professor, Occupational Therapy Program, Delaware State University.
Tina LopezAssistant Professor, Occupational Therapy Program, Delaware State University.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Objective: Falls are a major public health concern among older adults in the United States, and Delaware reflects this growing burden. Fall-related mortality increased steadily from 2012 to 2021, coinciding with a rapidly aging population. Despite the availability of effective evidence-based fall-prevention programs, adoption remains limited among high-risk populations. Grounded in implementation science, this study aimed to identify barriers and facilitators influencing the uptake of fall-prevention interventions among community-dwelling older adults and healthcare providers in Delaware. This project began November 2024 with data collection and analysis concluding March 2026. Methods: A qualitative descriptive, multi-method design was employed including semi-structured interviews with nineteen older adults and focus groups of nine healthcare providers in southcentral Delaware. Interviews and focus groups were audio recorded, transcribed, and analyzed using inductive and deductive coding. Themes were analyzed using Theoretical Domains Framework and Behavior Change Wheel to categorize barriers and facilitators affecting fall prevention participation. Results: Barriers to fall prevention spanned multiple domains, including limited awareness of programs, financial and transportation challenges, provider gatekeeping, time constraints, and inconsistent referral practices. Older adults frequently underestimated their fall risk, underreported falls, and demonstrated low adherence to preventive behaviors, often compounded by social isolation. Facilitators included willingness to adopt prevention strategies, individualized fall action plans, family and social support, use of emergency alert technologies, and strong provider motivation to address fall risk. Conclusion: Gaps in fall prevention reflect implementation challenges rather than a lack of available evidence-based programs. Interconnected behavioral, structural, and system-level barriers influence both older adults and healthcare providers. Coordinated, evidence-informed implementation strategies are needed to expand program reach and improve outcomes for Delaware's growing older adult population. Policy Implications: Standardized fall risk screening, interprofessional referral pathways, and population-specific implementation strategies for Delaware communities may help reduce fall-related morbidity and mortality among the state's rapidly aging population.

Identifiers

PMID42544291
PMCPMC13429249

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