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BMC Geriatrics
Published in: BMC Geriatrics 1/2017

Open Access 01-12-2017 | Study protocol

Tailored multifactorial intervention to improve dizziness symptoms and quality of life, balance and gait in dizziness sufferers aged over 50 years: protocol for a randomised controlled trial

Authors: Jasmine C. Menant, Americo A. Migliaccio, Cameron Hicks, Joanne Lo, Daniela Meinrath, Mayna Ratanapongleka, Jessica Turner, Daina L. Sturnieks, Kim Delbaere, Nickolai Titov, Catherine McVeigh, Jacqueline C. T. Close, Stephen R. Lord

Published in: BMC Geriatrics | Issue 1/2017

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Abstract

Background

Dizziness is a frequently reported symptom in older people that can markedly impair quality of life. This manuscript presents the protocol for a randomised controlled trial, which has the main objective of determining the impact of comprehensive assessment followed by a tailored multifaceted intervention in reducing dizziness episodes and symptoms, improving associated impairments to balance and gait and enhancing quality of life in older people with self-reported significant dizziness.

Methods

Three hundred people aged 50 years or older, reporting significant dizziness in the past year will be recruited to participate in the trial. Participants allocated to the intervention group will receive a tailored, multifaceted intervention aimed at treating their dizziness symptoms over a 6 month trial period. Control participants will receive usual care. The primary outcome measures will be the frequency and duration of dizziness episodes, dizziness symptoms assessed with the Dizziness Handicap Inventory, choice-stepping reaction time and step time variability. Secondary outcomes will include health-related quality of life measures, depression and anxiety symptoms, concern about falling, balance and risk of falls assessed with the physiological fall risk assessment. Analyses will be by intention-to-treat.

Discussion

The study will determine the effectiveness of comprehensive assessment, combined with a tailored, multifaceted intervention on dizziness episodes and symptoms, balance and gait control and quality of life in older people experiencing dizziness. Clinical implications will be evident for the older population for the diagnosis and treatment of dizziness.

Trial registration

The study is registered with the Australia New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry ACTRN12612000379​819.
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Metadata
Title
Tailored multifactorial intervention to improve dizziness symptoms and quality of life, balance and gait in dizziness sufferers aged over 50 years: protocol for a randomised controlled trial
Authors
Jasmine C. Menant
Americo A. Migliaccio
Cameron Hicks
Joanne Lo
Daniela Meinrath
Mayna Ratanapongleka
Jessica Turner
Daina L. Sturnieks
Kim Delbaere
Nickolai Titov
Catherine McVeigh
Jacqueline C. T. Close
Stephen R. Lord
Publication date
01-12-2017
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
BMC Geriatrics / Issue 1/2017
Electronic ISSN: 1471-2318
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12877-017-0450-3

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