# Engaging older adults in fall prevention using Motivational Interviewing (MI)

> **NIH NIH K23** · OREGON HEALTH & SCIENCE UNIVERSITY · 2022 · $137,228

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
One-third of older adults fall every year in the United States. Many accidental falls can be prevented through
fall risk assessment and evidence-based interventions. The interventions may include advice for exercise,
medication adjustment, blood pressure management, environmental modifications, and improving vision.
However, older adults do not consistently follow these recommendations for a number of reasons, including
their perceptions about falls and fall prevention. Emerging evidence indicates that a recommendation alone is
not sufficient to engage patients in fall prevention. Yet, studies that explore alternate ways to improve patients’
engagement with fall prevention are rare. Reframing fall prevention in a behavior change context, specifically
through Motivational Interviewing (MI), holds strong potential to positively impact fall prevention efforts. MI can
address emotional barriers and individual’s unique values as well as cognitive and physical limitations. While
individualized fall prevention strategies are emerging, MI intervention has not been tested as follow-up care
after fall prevention recommendations have been provided to moderate-to-high fall-risk clinic patients. Dr.
Kiyoshi-Teo is driven to discover and implement patient-oriented behavior change interventions to ensure
safety and quality of life of older adults. Thus, the overall goal of this application is two-folds: 1) gain further
training to advance skills related to behavior change, mixed-methods, and patient-oriented research, and 2)
use mixed-methods research to evaluate how MI impacts patient engagement and fall risks. The training and
proposal goals align with the mission of the NINR and the goal of the K23 patient-oriented research funding
opportunity. She will use new skills gained during the K23 training to conduct the proposed study and to
develop future studies to improve the health outcomes of older adults through behavior change. The training
activities include formal coursework/workshop, immersive experience with the mentors (Drs. Eckstrom, Cohen,
and Winters-Stone), conferences, and other opportunities at Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) and
other institutions. OHSU is an ideal training environment and has provided Dr. Kiyoshi-Teo with protected
research time for the past 5 years. The study aims of this randomized control trial with longitudinal follow-up
are: 1) evaluate the impact of MI through self-reported and physiologic measures using a quantitative
approach, 2) evaluate the process by which MI engages older adults in fall prevention behavior changes using
a qualitative approach, and 3) evaluate the feasibility of the proposed MI intervention. We will recruit and
randomize150 patients from OHSU Internal Medicine and Geriatrics Clinic. Participants are enrolled in the
study for 12 months and may have up to nine study encounters through phone contacts or study visits.
Narrative transcriptions for purposively selected participants...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10380655
- **Project number:** 5K23NR018672-03
- **Recipient organization:** OREGON HEALTH & SCIENCE UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Hiroko Kiyoshi-Teo
- **Activity code:** K23 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $137,228
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2020-04-15 → 2023-03-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10380655

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10380655, Engaging older adults in fall prevention using Motivational Interviewing (MI) (5K23NR018672-03). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10380655. Licensed CC0.

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