Abstract
Background: The incidence of falls is a major public health issue with one- third of older people falling annually. Consequently, there are many interventions available to prevent falls such as education and exercise training. However, their effectiveness at reducing fall prevalence is minimal due to low adherence, especially amongst ethnic minority groups. There is currently a paucity of research in this area particularly among older adults from ethnic minority groups.
Aims: This systematic review aims to identify the main facilitators and barriers to the uptake of fall prevention programs in older adults from ethnic minority groups.
Methods: The review was registered onto PROSPERO (CRD42024586433) before conducting a literature search on Medline, Embase and CINAHL databases using the PICO framework to extract relevant English language studies. Inclusion criteria included studies focusing on older adults aged 65 years and above and from ethnic minority groups. After removal of duplicates and full text screening, articles underwent quality assessment using the JBI tool. Data extraction took place, and key themes were categorised using the COM-B model.
Results: 12 studies were included in the final review: 9 qualitative and 3 mixed method studies. The review included 1176 participants including Hispanics, South Asians, Chinese and African American ethnic groups. Main themes included language barriers, cultural beliefs and inadequate support from healthcare professionals. Quantitative findings showed a statistically significant correlation between adherence and the following factors: living alone, low mood, level of education and culture.
Conclusion: This review has identified key barriers and facilitators to engage older adults from ethnic minority groups. Future interventions should consider these facilitators and barriers to enhance inclusivity and engagement.