Sunday, August 17, 2025 8/17/2025

Optimizing a technology-based body and mind intervention to prevent falls and reduce health disparities in low-income populations

Award Number: R01MD018025
ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL CENTER ON MINORITY HEALTH AND HEALTH DISPARITIES
OPDIV: NIH
AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY
AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 09/26/2022
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 06/30/2026

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Optimizing a technology-based body and mind intervention to prevent falls and reduce health disparities in low-income populations - PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT Falls and fear of falling (FOF) are the leading cause of injury, disability, and hospitalization in racially diverse low-income older adults (LOA). Lack of motivation, limited resources, low education, and inconvenience remain barriers to participate in fall prevention programs. More than half of older adults have maladaptive fall risk appraisal (FRA), a condition in which there is a discrepancy between perceived fall risk (levels of FOF) and physiological fall risk (balance performance) which may impede physical activity (PA). To help address maladaptive FRA; we developed a fall risk appraisal matrix, a graphical grid categorizing levels of FOF (Mind) and levels of balance (Body) into four quadrants: 1) rational FRA (low FOF and normal balance), 2) incongruent FRA (low FOF despite poor balance), 3) irrational FRA (high FOF despite normal balance), and 4) congruent FRA (high FOF and poor balance). We developed a novel, 8-week technology-based, individualized, in-home Physio-fEedback Exercise pRogram (PEER), which includes a) physio-feedback using a real-time portable innovative technology—the BTrackS Balance System: BBS; b) cognitive reframing based on a novel fall risk appraisal matrix; and c) peer-led exercise by focusing on balance and strength training. Our R03 findings support the feasibility and acceptability of using BBS technology on screening LOA with maladaptive FRA, highlight the importance of reducing sedentary time and increasing moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) time to help shift from maladaptive to adaptive FRA. Critically, we found that none of our LOA had ever had their fall risk and FOF assessed before our study and their data reveal a strong relationship between FOF and negative self-perceptions of aging. In our published pilot study, we found that the technology-based PEER intervention had significant improvements in dynamic balance, reduced fall risk, and facilitated maladaptive to adaptive shifting; however, our limited sample of LOA (40% of total) prevents strong conclusions about effectiveness in this group. We use a clustered randomized controlled trial, and the intervention will be offered at the low-income independent living communities/units in Orlando, FL through our partnership with community-based & public health organizations. We will collect data at baseline (T1) and measure outcomes after program completion (T2), follow up at 3-months (T3), and 6-months (T4). Low-income older adults (n=340) will be enrolled if they are ≥60 years old, cognitive intact, and able to stand without assistance. We aim to 1) examine the effects of the technology-based PEER intervention on fall risk, dynamic balance, and accelerometer-based physical activity; 2) examine the effects of the intervention on fall risk appraisal shifting and negative self-perceptions of aging; and 3) explore participants’ experiences with the intervention and potential barriers to access and adoption of technology-based PEER intervention. This study addresses the public health problem with the optimization of a technology - driven tailored approach that can operate in low-resource environments with unlimited users to prevent falls and reduce health disparities.


Issue Date FY	Funding FY	Legal Entity Name	Legal Entity Address	Legal Entity City	Legal Entity State	Legal Entity Zip Code	Legal Entity COUNTY	Legal Entity COUNTRY	Assistance Listing	Award Code	Budget Year	Action Date	Action Type	Action Amount

Issue Date FY: 2025 ( Subtotal = $537,700 )
2025	2025	THE UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL FLORIDA BOARD OF TRUSTEES	4000 CENTRAL FLORIDA BLVD	ORLANDO	FL	32816	ORANGE	USA	Minority Health and Health Disparities Research	001	4	7/17/2025	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$537,700
2025	2024	THE UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL FLORIDA BOARD OF TRUSTEES	4000 CENTRAL FLORIDA BLVD	ORLANDO	FL	32816	ORANGE	USA	Minority Health and Health Disparities Research	000	3	5/28/2025	SUPPLEMENT FOR EXPANSION	$0
														Subtotal = $537,700

Issue Date FY: 2024 ( Subtotal = $919,718 )
2024	2024	THE UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL FLORIDA BOARD OF TRUSTEES	4000 CENTRAL FLORIDA BLVD	ORLANDO	FL	32816	ORANGE	USA	Minority Health and Health Disparities Research	001	3	6/18/2024	SUPPLEMENT FOR EXPANSION	$356,934
2024	2024	THE UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL FLORIDA BOARD OF TRUSTEES	4000 CENTRAL FLORIDA BLVD	ORLANDO	FL	32816	ORANGE	USA	Minority Health and Health Disparities Research	002	3	8/21/2024	SUPPLEMENT FOR EXPANSION	$0
2024	2024	THE UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL FLORIDA BOARD OF TRUSTEES	4000 CENTRAL FLORIDA BLVD	ORLANDO	FL	32816	ORANGE	USA	Minority Health and Health Disparities Research	000	3	6/16/2024	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$562,784
														Subtotal = $919,718

Issue Date FY: 2023 ( Subtotal = $927,778 )
2023	2023	UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL FLORIDA BOARD OF TRUSTEES, THE	4000 CENTRAL FLORIDA BLVD	ORLANDO	FL	32816	ORANGE	USA	Minority Health and Health Disparities Research	002	2	5/31/2023	SUPPLEMENT FOR EXPANSION	$356,934
2023	2023	UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL FLORIDA BOARD OF TRUSTEES, THE	4000 CENTRAL FLORIDA BLVD	ORLANDO	FL	32816	ORANGE	USA	Minority Health and Health Disparities Research	001	2	5/30/2023	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$570,844
2023	2023	THE UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL FLORIDA BOARD OF TRUSTEES	4000 CENTRAL FLORIDA BLVD	ORLANDO	FL	32816	ORANGE	USA	Minority Health and Health Disparities Research	003	2	9/15/2023	SUPPLEMENT FOR EXPANSION	$0
2023	2022	UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL FLORIDA BOARD OF TRUSTEES, THE	4000 CENTRAL FLORIDA BLVD	ORLANDO	FL	32816	ORANGE	USA	Minority Health and Health Disparities Research	000	1	10/26/2022	NEW	$0
														Subtotal = $927,778

Issue Date FY: 2022 ( Subtotal = $602,816 )
2022	2022	UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL FLORIDA BOARD OF TRUSTEES, THE	4000 CENTRAL FLORIDA BLVD	ORLANDO	FL	32816	ORANGE	USA	Minority Health and Health Disparities Research	000	1	9/26/2022	NEW	$602,816
														Subtotal = $602,816

Grand Total All Awards = $2,988,012

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Optimizing a technology-based body and mind intervention to prevent falls and reduce health disparities in low-income populations

Award Number: R01MD018025

ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL CENTER ON MINORITY HEALTH AND HEALTH DISPARITIES

OPDIV: NIH

AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY

AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 09/26/2022

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 06/30/2026

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