Adaptation of the STEPPING ON Fall Prevention Program for Older Adults Receiving Cancer Therapy

Adaptation of the STEPPING ON Fall Prevention Program for Older Adults Receiving Cancer Therapy

Chronic disease self-management is the ability of the individual, in conjunction with family, community and healthcare professionals to manage symptoms, treatments, lifestyle changes and psychosocial, cultural and spiritual consequences associated with a chronic condition. Self-management strategies have been successfully used in supportive care and survivorship in oncology. Stepping On, a multi-component program using a small-group learning environment, reduces falls by 31%. It empowers participants with knowledge about fall-risk, exercise, medications and environmental hazards to self-manage their risk of falls over 7 weeks of educational sessions, followed by a home visit. The research in this proposal will yield the adaptation of the effective group-education-based fall-prevention intervention Stepping On, tailored to cancer patients, feasible for testing in a multi-institutional trial, and ultimately scalable in the oncology setting.

Inclusion Criteria for Patient Participants:

• Age ≥70 years.
• Reports a fall within the past 1 year OR self-reports that they are concerned about falling.
• Receiving systemic cancer therapy (including conventional chemotherapy, novel/targeted agents, immunotherapy, monoclonal antibody therapy, oral tyrosine kinase inhibitors, or hormonal agents) OR will begin systemic therapy within the next 4 weeks.
• Able to understand and willing to sign an IRB-approved written informed consent document.

Exclusion Criteria for Patient Participants:

• Life expectancy <6 months.
• Unable to understand written or spoken English.