DISCUSSION
The main purpose of this study was to examine the effects
of a GRI audio CD to increase falls self-efficacy in older
adults who reported having a FOF. Results revealed that
the GRI group had better improvements on efficacious
behaviors than the group using guided relaxation with
music of choice. Both groups had improvements on their
Short FES-I scores at follow-up, but there was greater
improvement in the GRI group (30% decrease in average
scores, meaning higher falls self-efficacy) than the control
group (10.1% decrease in average scores). Secondary outcomes
also showed greater reductions in times for the
TUG and greater increases in reported leisure-time activity
scores for the GRI group after 6 weeks.
The current study supports previous research that
found that GRI might be an effective therapeutic tool for
behaviors and problems such as fear of animals and reduction
of pain in cancer treatment.10,24 This study also
extends previous literature in successfully increasing falls
self-efficacy25–28 and self-reported leisure-time exercise
behaviors8 using an intervention. The GRI audio CD was
specifically made so that participants could visualize (imagine)
certain daily activities (e.g., go to bathroom, walk
around supermarket) without having a FOF. With significant
improvements in falls self-efficacy, self-reported
leisure-time exercise behaviors, and the TUG, GRI might
be a practical tool for those who are unable to perform
certain physical activities simply because they have a FOF.
Guided relaxation along with music of choice (controlgroup) also significantly improved falls self-efficacy and
the TUG, but these changes were not as dramatic as in the
intervention group.
Both groups had longer average times on the TUG17
at baseline (control, 15.38 seconds, intervention,
16.15 seconds) than the high falls risk cutoff time of
14 seconds or longer,18 but after 6 weeks, both groups significantly
lowered their times (control, 13.60 seconds,
intervention, 11.59 seconds), indicating that a guided
relaxation CD with music of choice or the GRI audio CD
might have a significant effect on reducing participants’
risk of falls. In future studies, it might be interesting to
expand upon this by examining the effects of GRI with
actual fall rates for older adults.
GRI had a significant effect on higher self-reported
leisure time exercise levels. Because one of the best ways
to prevent FOF and falling is to exercise,29 it might be
interesting in future studies to use GRI techniques to build
exercise programs or interventions for sedentary older
adults and to examine whether they have an effect on
actual exercise levels (e.g., step count
DISCUSSIONThe main purpose of this study was to examine the effectsof a GRI audio CD to increase falls self-efficacy in olderadults who reported having a FOF. Results revealed thatthe GRI group had better improvements on efficaciousbehaviors than the group using guided relaxation withmusic of choice. Both groups had improvements on theirShort FES-I scores at follow-up, but there was greaterimprovement in the GRI group (30% decrease in averagescores, meaning higher falls self-efficacy) than the controlgroup (10.1% decrease in average scores). Secondary outcomesalso showed greater reductions in times for theTUG and greater increases in reported leisure-time activityscores for the GRI group after 6 weeks.The current study supports previous research thatfound that GRI might be an effective therapeutic tool forbehaviors and problems such as fear of animals and reductionof pain in cancer treatment.10,24 This study alsoextends previous literature in successfully increasing fallsself-efficacy25–28 and self-reported leisure-time exercisebehaviors8 using an intervention. The GRI audio CD wasspecifically made so that participants could visualize (imagine)certain daily activities (e.g., go to bathroom, walkaround supermarket) without having a FOF. With significantimprovements in falls self-efficacy, self-reportedleisure-time exercise behaviors, and the TUG, GRI mightbe a practical tool for those who are unable to performcertain physical activities simply because they have a FOF.
Guided relaxation along with music of choice (controlgroup) also significantly improved falls self-efficacy and
the TUG, but these changes were not as dramatic as in the
intervention group.
Both groups had longer average times on the TUG17
at baseline (control, 15.38 seconds, intervention,
16.15 seconds) than the high falls risk cutoff time of
14 seconds or longer,18 but after 6 weeks, both groups significantly
lowered their times (control, 13.60 seconds,
intervention, 11.59 seconds), indicating that a guided
relaxation CD with music of choice or the GRI audio CD
might have a significant effect on reducing participants’
risk of falls. In future studies, it might be interesting to
expand upon this by examining the effects of GRI with
actual fall rates for older adults.
GRI had a significant effect on higher self-reported
leisure time exercise levels. Because one of the best ways
to prevent FOF and falling is to exercise,29 it might be
interesting in future studies to use GRI techniques to build
exercise programs or interventions for sedentary older
adults and to examine whether they have an effect on
actual exercise levels (e.g., step count
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