Two separate tragic family losses are the reason Dr Alison Pighills is so passionate
about falls prevention.
The Mackay researcher has been awarded $4 million in funding to conduct a five-year
study into reducing fall-related injuries which will have an enormous impact on the
ageing population worldwide.
It’s the culmination of 20 years of hard work and a project very close to the heart of
the Mackay Hospital and Health Service Principal Research Fellow and Adjunct
Associate Professor with James Cook University (JCU).
While working on her PhD investigating the clinical effectiveness of home hazard
reduction to prevent falls in older people in 2006, her father-in-law died instantly
following a head injury after he fell downstairs at home at night in the dark. Her
mother-in-law Kath died after surgery eight years later after she fell whilst getting out
of bed and broke her hip.
“Ernest and Kath are two very good reasons why I am so passionate about falls
prevention - we miss them both every day,” Dr Pighills said.
As one of the biggest study grants received by a MHHS researcher, Dr Pighills hopes
the study and her research knowledge will be adopted and implemented by
occupational therapists (OTs) to identify and reduce home hazards contributing to falls
in the elderly.
Dr Pighills said that a recent Cochrane systematic review which she co-authored had
already proven the intervention was highly effective in reducing the rate of falls by
about 39 per cent in elderly people with three or more falls risk factors.
“Older people at high risk of falls is the category of people that this intervention is
extremely effective with and can reduce falls by approximately 39 per cent,” Dr Pighills said.
“The person will identify what they think increases their risk of falling, when they feel
unsafe doing certain tasks, such as dressing or showering, and the OT will encourage
them to not only identify their own risks but also identify their own solutions.”
Set to begin later this year, the study will be progressively rolled out with OTs in 12
sites - ten across Queensland, including the Mackay Hospital and Health Service, and
two sites in other states. The study involves supervision of participating OTs from the
public and private health system, non-government organisations and community-
based services, to ensure they properly implement EAM and involves a clinical trial to
evaluate the effectiveness of implementation.
Dr Pighills said the study reinforced that Mackay Institute of Research and Innovation
(MIRI) could be competitive in the grant funding rounds and was engaging in research
which translated into innovative practice.
“We hope this study will have a massive impact on reducing the risk of falls for elderly
people not just within Australia, but worldwide,” Dr Pighills said.
Dr Alison Pighills, passionate researcher, receives funding to conduct a five-year study into reducing fall-related injuries. Photo credit: Hannah McNamara
