Background: Fall-risk increasing drugs (FRIDs) are medications that can increase the risk of falls (ROF) among older people (OP). However, OP were shown to have little knowledge or awareness about FRIDs. Additionally, education materials (EMs) on falls prevention infrequently cover topics on FRIDs. This study aims to assess the freely available EMs on falls prevention to determine the content and extent of information about medications that are associated with falls. Methods: A systematic Internet search was conducted to identify EMs on falls prevention. Each EM was reviewed to identify information on (1) medications as a risk factor for falls; (2) type of medications associated with falls; (3) adverse effects of the medications; (4) medication review; (5) advice that OP should communicate with healthcare providers about medication use; and (6) advice for ensuring the safe use of medications. Results: Overall, 83 EMs on falls prevention were assessed. Only 33% of the EMs provided examples of drug classes associated with falls. Most EMs highlighted central nervous system (CNS) and cardiovascular (CV) drugs as FRIDs. About half of the EMs contained information on the adverse effects of medications associated with falls. Only 39% of them had information on medication review. Advice to encourage OP to communicate with HCPs, and to ensure the safe use of their medications was only available in about half of the EMs. Conclusion: The analysis highlights the content gap in the existing EMs on falls prevention. Future developers of EMs on falls prevention may consider strengthening their content on FRIDs.
Keywords: Education material, Fall-risk increasing drugs, Falls, Medications, Older people.
