FallsNCT06645080
Vision Screening in Hospitals for Older Adults Following a Fall
An observational study of Falls and Vision; Disorder, Loss, run by University of Nottingham at 1 site in United Kingdom.
Trial summary
Aims This study aims to improve the way vision is checked and sight loss treated in older adults (65 years or older), who attend hospital following a fall. Background Falling is common in older adults. As the number of older people grows, the number of falls is expected to increase as well. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 years and olderHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Falls, Vision; Disorder, Loss
- What is being tested?
- Focus group or interview participation and Delphi survey participation
- How many people
- 105 participants
- Where
- 1 siteUnited Kingdom
- Study dates
- 1 Feb 2025to Jun 2027
- Phase
- Observational
- Are there results?
- Not yet: the study is under way
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 years and older
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Adult, Older adult
Study population: Part one- Focus group study (with healthcare professionals): Members of the acute multidisciplinary team who care for falls patients at Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust (NUHT) will be recruited. Part two- Focus group study (with service users/ carers): Current patients of NUHT or others recruited from the public, aged 65 or over who have had a fall. Carers of people aged 65 or over who have had a fall. Part three- Intervention development using Delphi study: Professionals with relevant knowledge and experience of falls assessments and management in hospitals for older people or the assessment and management of impaired vision in older people.
Who may be able to join
- Part one- Focus group study (with healthcare professionals):
- Aged 18 years or above
- Health professionals at NUHT
- Must be involved in falls assessments/ management/ care of older falls patients as part of current/ previous role at NUHT.
- Part two- Focus group study (with service users/ carers):
- Adults ≥65 years
Show all 12Show fewer
- Had at least 1 fall requiring attendance at an emergency department
- Carers of adults ≥65 who have had at least 1 fall requiring attendance at an emergency department
- Part three- Intervention development using Delphi study:
- Aged 18 years or above
- Knowledge and experience of falls assessments and management in hospitals for older people
- Experience of the assessment and management of impaired vision in older people
Who cannot join
- Those who are unable to give voluntary informed consent.
- Those who have not sought secondary care following a fall.
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
United Kingdom1 site
Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust
Nottingham, England, NG7 2UH
About this study
Official title: Vision Screening in Hospitals for Older Adults Following a Fall: an Intervention Development Study
Aims
This study aims to improve the way vision is checked and sight loss treated in older adults (65 years or older), who attend hospital following a fall.
Read more
Background
Falling is common in older adults. As the number of older people grows, the number of falls is expected to increase as well. Falling can affect a person's life in several ways: it can lead to pain, injuries, difficulty doing normal daily activities, weaker muscles, feeling isolated, losing independence and confidence, living in fear of falling, depression, difficulty in recovering from illnesses, developing other health problems more easily and a higher risk of death. Falls are a major health problem for the public and the United Kingdom (UK) spends more than £2 billion per year on caring for older adults who fall.
Problems with eyesight are also more common in older age and can have a similar effect on a person's independence, happiness and almost doubles their chances of falling. Sight loss in older age that is linked to falling is often treatable.
UK guidelines have been made to help prevent falls. These guidelines recommend checking for and treating sight loss in all older adults who attend hospital following a fall. However, this is only being done in a small number of hospitals. The reasons for this need to be investigated, in order to encourage and make it easier for health professionals to follow these guidelines.
Research has also shown that older adults, may be less likely to get their eyes tested regularly and attend hospital eye appointments. There are many reasons for this and vision screening whilst the patient is already receiving care in hospital, may be a good opportunity to address these issues. The views of the public are important for developing screening services that they understand and meets their needs. This study will gather the views of older people and their carers on hospital vision screening after a fall and the importance of looking after their eyes.
This study aims to improve the way vision is checked in older adults who attend hospital following a fall. This will help to identify and treat sight loss that may contribute to repeated falling. The study will combine the views of older adults and health professionals, to ensure that changes made meet patients' needs and are sustainable.
Design and methods
This study will have three parts:
- Focus groups asking health professionals about checking vision in patients who have fallen.
- Focus groups asking patients who have fallen and their carers about looking after their eyes.
- Development of a way of checking vision and treating sight loss in older adults who attend hospital following a fall.
- Conditions
- Falls, Vision; Disorder, Loss
- Being tested
- Focus group or interview participation, Delphi survey participation
- Keywords
- Falls, Vision screening, Intervention for falls prevention, Vision; Disorder, Loss
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Focus group or interview participationOther
90 minute focus group or 60 minute interview participation
Delphi survey participationOther
Participation in a modified two-round Delphi technique. Optional third round in the event of insufficient agreement in the second round.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Focus Group participants (health professionals) | Not described Receives: Other: Focus group or interview participation | |
| Focus group participants (service users/ carers) | Not described Receives: Other: Focus group or interview participation | |
| Delphi study participants | Not described Receives: Other: Delphi survey participation |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Percentage agreement on Delphi survey components
After each complete Delphi round, the percentage agreement of responses for each survey component will be calculated to help decide upon the subsequent Delphi survey items to be included. Or, if in the case of the final survey round, to help decide if a further round is required in the event of disagreement.
Measured: Within 2 weeks of all Delphi round responses collected.
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted16 Oct 2024
- Study start1 Feb 2025
- Primary completionSep 2026 (estimated)
- Study completionJun 2027 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for FallsStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by University of NottinghamThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Observational
- Observational model
- Other
- Time perspective
- Other
- Enrolment
- 105 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- University of Nottingham
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust, The Dunhill Medical Trust
- Responsible party
- Sponsor
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT06645080
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- 24056
- Status last verified
- Apr 2026
- First submitted
- 14 Oct 2024
- Last updated
- 29 Apr 2026
- Results posted
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 29 Apr 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Vision Screening in Hospitals for Older Adults Following a Fall: an Intervention Development Study
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT06645080
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- 24056
- Conditions
- Falls, Vision; Disorder, Loss
- Keywords
- Falls, Vision screening, Intervention for falls prevention, Vision; Disorder, Loss
- Study type
- Observational
- Recruitment status
- Active, not recruiting
- Enrolment
- 105 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- University of NottinghamUniversity, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust, The Dunhill Medical Trust
- Study start
- 1 Feb 2025 (actual)
- Primary completion
- Sep 2026 (estimated)
- Study completion
- Jun 2027 (estimated)
- First posted
- 16 Oct 2024 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
Aims
This study aims to improve the way vision is checked and sight loss treated in older adults (65 years or older), who attend hospital following a fall.
Background
Falling is common in older adults. As the number of older people grows, the number of falls is expected to increase as well. Falling can affect a person's life in several ways: it can lead to pain, injuries, difficulty doing normal daily activities, weaker muscles, feeling isolated, losing independence and confidence, living in fear of falling, depression, difficulty in recovering from illnesses, developing other health problems more easily and a higher risk of death. Falls are a major health problem for the public and the United Kingdom (UK) spends more than £2 billion per year on caring for older adults who fall.
Problems with eyesight are also more common in older age and can have a similar effect on a person's independence, happiness and almost doubles their chances of falling. Sight loss in older age that is linked to falling is often treatable.
UK guidelines have been made to help prevent falls. These guidelines recommend checking for and treating sight loss in all older adults who attend hospital following a fall. However, this is only being done in a small number of hospitals. The reasons for this need to be investigated, in order to encourage and make it easier for health professionals to follow these guidelines.
Research has also shown that older adults, may be less likely to get their eyes tested regularly and attend hospital eye appointments. There are many reasons for this and vision screening whilst the patient is already receiving care in hospital, may be a good opportunity to address these issues. The views of the public are important for developing screening services that they understand and meets their needs. This study will gather the views of older people and their carers on hospital vision screening after a fall and the importance of looking after their eyes.
This study aims to improve the way vision is checked in older adults who attend hospital following a fall. This will help to identify and treat sight loss that may contribute to repeated falling. The study will combine the views of older adults and health professionals, to ensure that changes made meet patients' needs and are sustainable.
Design and methods
This study will have three parts:
- Focus groups asking health professionals about checking vision in patients who have fallen.
- Focus groups asking patients who have fallen and their carers about looking after their eyes.
- Development of a way of checking vision and treating sight loss in older adults who attend hospital following a fall.
Study design
- Observational model
- Other
- Time perspective
- Other
- Number of arms
- 3
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Focus Group participants (health professionals) | – | Other: Focus group or interview participation |
| Focus group participants (service users/ carers) | – | Other: Focus group or interview participation |
| Delphi study participants | – | Other: Delphi survey participation |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 years and older
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
- Study population
- Part one- Focus group study (with healthcare professionals): Members of the acute multidisciplinary team who care for falls patients at Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust (NUHT) will be recruited. Part two- Focus group study (with service users/ carers): Current patients of NUHT or others recruited from the public, aged 65 or over who have had a fall. Carers of people aged 65 or over who have had a fall. Part three- Intervention development using Delphi study: Professionals with relevant knowledge and experience of falls assessments and management in hospitals for older people or the assessment and management of impaired vision in older people.
Key inclusion criteria (12 listed)
- Aged 18 years or above
- Health professionals at NUHT
- Must be involved in falls assessments/ management/ care of older falls patients as part of current/ previous role at NUHT.
- Adults ≥65 years
- Had at least 1 fall requiring attendance at an emergency department
Key exclusion criteria (2 listed)
- Those who are unable to give voluntary informed consent.
- Those who have not sought secondary care following a fall.
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Focus group or interview participation90 minute focus group or 60 minute interview participation | Other | Focus Group participants (health professionals), Focus group participants (service users/ carers) |
| Delphi survey participationParticipation in a modified two-round Delphi technique. Optional third round in the event of insufficient agreement in the second round. | Other | Delphi study participants |
Primary outcome
Percentage agreement on Delphi survey components
Time frame: Within 2 weeks of all Delphi round responses collected.
After each complete Delphi round, the percentage agreement of responses for each survey component will be calculated to help decide upon the subsequent Delphi survey items to be included. Or, if in the case of the final survey round, to help decide if a further round is required in the event of disagreement.
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 29 Apr 2026.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
The record lists no contact. Use the official record to reach the sponsor.
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
An observational study of Falls and Vision; Disorder, Loss, run by University of Nottingham at 1 site in United Kingdom.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 12 inclusion and 2 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: under way, not looking for participants, as of the sponsor's last update on 29 Apr 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in United Kingdom. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Percentage agreement on Delphi survey components (time frame: Within 2 weeks of all Delphi round responses collected.). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 29 Apr 2026.