Prevention of Falls Network Europe: a thematic network aimed at introducing good practice in effective falls prevention across Europe

Abstract

The Prevention of Falls Network Europe (ProFaNE) aims to improve quality of life of the ageing population by focussing on a major cause of disability and distress: falls. The thematic network is funded by the European Commission and brings together scientists, clinicians and other health professionals from around Europe to focus on four main themes: taxonomy and coordination of trials, clinical assessment and management of falls, assessment of balance function, and psychological aspects of falling. There are 24 members across Europe as well as network associates who contribute expertise at workshops and meetings. ProFaNE, a 4-year project which started in January 2003, aims to improve and standardise health care processes, introducing and promoting good practice widely across Europe. ProFaNE undertakes workshops that bring together experts and observers around specific topics to exchange knowledge, expertise and resources on interventions that reduce falls. A key document for policy makers around Europe, written by ProFaNE members, was published by the World Health Organisation in March 2004. ProFaNE's website has both public and private areas with resources (web links to falls prevention, useful documents for policy makers, researchers and practitioners) and a discussion board to encourage informal networking between members and the public. The ultimate aim of ProFaNE is to submit a collaborative bid to undertake a multi-centre, randomised controlled trial of a multi-factorial fall prevention intervention with peripheral fracture as the primary outcome. The success of the networking and relationship building in the first year and a half of ProFaNE's work makes this an achievable goal.

Validity and Sensitivity to Change of the Falls Efficacy Scales International to Assess Fear of Falling in Older Adults with and without Cognitive Impairment

“…Concerns about falling were measured by the 16-item FES-I [21,23] , which was developed as part of the work of the Prevention of Falls Network Europe (www.profane.eu.org) [28] . The 4 response options for the scales range from 'not at all concerned' to 'very concerned'.…”

Do Dual Tasks Have an Added Value Over Single Tasks for Balance Assessment in Fall Prevention Programs? A Mini-Review

“…The Prevention of Falls Network Europe (ProFaNE) [9,10] is a European Commission funded thematic network in which European researchers and clinicians are brought together to focus on the development of multifactorial prevention programs aimed at reducing the incidence of falls amongst older people. One of the objectives of the network is to identify balance assessment tools that can be used in the development of effective fall interventions.…”

Concerns about falling in wheelchair users with spinal cord injury—validation of the Swedish version of the spinal cord injury falls concern scale

“…Missing data on SCI-FCS, Fatigue Severity Scale or Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale were replaced by the individual mean score according to the ProFaNE guidelines. 14 The Mann-Whitney U-test was used to detect the differences between groups and P ⩽ 0.05 was considered significant.…”