Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) (with a concurrent comparison group) of multifaceted programmes to prevent falls in participants aged 60 years or more who lived in a residential setting were eligible. Eligible outcomes included the number of residents who sustained a fall, number of falls, number of injuries that resulted from falls and number of recurrent fallers. Follow up had to be at least six months after the intervention programme.
In the included studies, the multifaceted programmes included environmental modification, exercise programmes, medication adjustments, hip protectors and resident and staff educational programmes; not all studies included all of these types of intervention. Control groups received usual care, no intervention or programme or social interaction programmes. Programme delivery ranged from 11 weeks to one year. In some studies, participants were excluded if they were bed bound, had evidence of poor cognitive function, had no previous falls or were temporary residents. Main outcomes included proportion of residents who had falls, number of falls, proportion of injurious falls and proportion of recurrent falls (defined as two or more or three or more falls during follow up).
It appeared that at least two reviewers selected papers for inclusion in the review and any disagreements were resolved through consensus.