Randomised trials with a community-dwelling study population aged mostly 65 and over were eligible for inclusion in the review. The intervention had to be solely an environmental intervention (defined as adaptations or modifications to the physical environment, changes in individuals' behaviour when negotiating and interacting with the environment or the management of the environment by organisational change and decision making). There was no restriction on how the intervention was delivered or who delivered it. Studies of populations in hostels, institutions or care homes or that included an environmental intervention as a component of a multifaceted intervention were excluded. The primary outcome of interest was the rate of falls or proportion of fallers.
Studies included in the review were carried out in four different countries (Australia, France, Germany and New Zealand). Location of recruitment of participants also varied (electoral roll, hospital inpatients, local day centre, outpatients' clinic, low vision and ophthalmic clinics). Average age of participants was 79.6 years. The percentage of fallers in the past year varied between the studies. Providers of the intervention included occupational therapists, research nurses, trained assessors and an ergotherapist.
Three reviewers independently selected the studies for inclusion in the review. It was not reported how disagreements were resolved.