Abstract
INTRODUCTION: People ageing with long-term physical disabilities face unique challenges to maintaining independence. We developed a novel, evidence-based intervention - Removing Environmental Barriers to Independent Living - to support participation and reduce falls. METHODS: To examine Removing environmental barriers to independent living's feasibility and estimate its magnitude of efficacy, we conducted a single-blinded randomised controlled trial. Fifty participants who were aged 45-65 years with a physical disability for at least 5 years were randomised to intervention (n = 24) or control (n = 26). Activity performance, environmental barriers to performance, community participation, environmental fall hazards and fall prevention behaviours were assessed at baseline and at 6-month follow-up. Dose, adherence, fidelity and cost were examined. Linear mixed-effects models for repeated measures were used to assess the effects of time, group and group by time interaction on the continuous outcomes. RESULTS: Removing environmental barriers to independent living had high fidelity and adherence and a low implementation cost. There were trends for greater improvements in activity limitations and activity performance among intervention versus control participants. CONCLUSION: Removing environmental barriers to independent living is a feasible intervention with high fidelity and adherence. Findings trended towards greater improvements in activity performance for intervention participants. Results could inform future planning for a larger pragmatic trial.