Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42784541›Full record

Trial reportAge and ageing2026

Effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of the Keep-On-Keep-Up digital falls prevention programme in community-dwelling older adults: results of a randomised controlled trial.

Chloe French, Amelia Parchment, Bolanle Odebiyi, Chunhu Shi, Saima Bashir, Dawn Dowding, Roman Kislov, Alexander Thompson, Dawn A Skelton, Margaret Clarke and 5 more

Abstract readRandomized Controlled Trial
In one paragraph

Trial report in Age and ageing, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
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

15 authors.

Chloe FrenchSchool of Health Sciences, Division of Nursing, Midwifery and Social Work, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK.
Amelia ParchmentSchool of Health Sciences, Division of Nursing, Midwifery and Social Work, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK.ORCID 0000-0002-6743-6912
Bolanle OdebiyiSchool of Health Sciences, Division of Nursing, Midwifery and Social Work, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK.
Chunhu ShiSchool of Health Sciences, Division of Nursing, Midwifery and Social Work, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK.
Saima BashirSchool of Health Sciences, Division of Nursing, Midwifery and Social Work, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK.
Dawn DowdingSchool of Health Sciences, Division of Nursing, Midwifery and Social Work, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK.ORCID 0000-0001-5672-8605
Roman KislovSchool of Health Sciences, Division of Nursing, Midwifery and Social Work, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK.
Alexander ThompsonSchool of Health Sciences, Division of Nursing, Midwifery and Social Work, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK.
Dawn A SkeltonResearch Centre for Health (ReaCH), School of Health and Life Sciences, Glasgow Caledonian University, Glasgow, UK.ORCID 0000-0001-6223-9840
Margaret ClarkeSchool of Health Sciences, Division of Nursing, Midwifery and Social Work, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK.
Yvonne Sylvestre GarciaSchool of Health Sciences, Division of Nursing, Midwifery and Social Work, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK.
Saima S AhmedSchool of Health Sciences, Division of Nursing, Midwifery and Social Work, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK.ORCID 0000-0002-6206-3184
Chris J ToddSchool of Health Sciences, Division of Nursing, Midwifery and Social Work, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK.ORCID 0000-0001-6645-4505
Peter BowerSchool of Health Sciences, Division of Nursing, Midwifery and Social Work, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK.
Emma StanmoreSchool of Health Sciences, Division of Nursing, Midwifery and Social Work, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK.

Funding

National Institute for Health and Care Research, Applied Research Collaboration-Greater Manchester NIHR200174NHS England 31088
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundFalls are a leading cause of injury-related hospital admissions among older adults with substantial burden on health and social care systems. Digital exercise programmes may improve physical function at scale and complement traditional services. Keep-On-Keep-Up (KOKU) is an National Health Service (NHS)-approved digital programme offering progressive, evidence-based exercises and education on fall prevention.We aimed to evaluate the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of KOKU for improving balance, physical function and reducing fall risk among community-dwelling older adults.

methodsA two-arm, parallel group randomised controlled trial was conducted with community-dwelling older adults (≥60 years). Participants were randomised (1:1) to receive KOKU alongside standard care (strength and balance exercise advice and a falls prevention leaflet) or standard care alone. The primary outcome was balance function at 12 weeks (Berg Balance Score). Secondary outcomes included lower limb strength, concerns about falling, falls, mood, pain, fatigue, healthcare utilisation, health-related quality of life and usability. A modified intention-to-treat approach was used to analyse effectiveness and cost effectiveness.

resultsA total of 202 older adults (mean age 76.8 years, 72.8% female) were enrolled (102 intervention; 100 control). Retention at 12-weeks was 89.1% (91 intervention; 89 control). Compared with standard care, KOKU significantly improved balance function at 12 weeks after adjusting for baseline scores (mean difference: 6.35, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 4.48, 8.22). KOKU was associated with lower mean falls related costs (incremental cost: -£62.98, 95% CI -£218.54 to £40.22) and a quality-adjusted life year gain of 0.020 (95% CI 0.003 to 0.035).

conclusionThe KOKU programme improves balance with preliminary evidence of cost-effectiveness among community-dwelling older adults. These findings support the integration of digital innovation into routine care to improve balance and strength, thereby reducing functional decline while delivering value for money.

Indexed as

Accidental FallsExercise TherapyAgedAged, 80 and overAge FactorsAging in PlaceCost-Effectiveness AnalysisDigital HealthFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedPostural BalanceQuality of LifeTime FactorsTreatment Outcomeageddigital healthfalls preventionolder peoplepostural balancerandomised controlled trial

Identifiers

PMID42784541
PMCPMC13603812

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.