Join our next workgroup discussion on the Shared Risk and Protective Factor Framework!
Your voice matters and can help us improve our work and reach more people!
For more information on this framework, please see the details below or in our action plan.
The SRPF framework is an approach that shifts the focus from the health outcomes that need to be prevented to more upstream (i.e., root cause) factors that contribute to those outcomes. Please see The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidance document, that introduced this framework in the context of violence prevention. While there is not yet an equivalent guide for falls prevention, the basic tenets of the approach can be applied.
Risk Factors: A set of behaviors and/or conditions associated with a greater likelihood of falls
Protective Factors: A set of behaviors and/or conditions that may reduce or buffer against the risk for falls.
Shared Risk and Protective Factors: Different types of health outcomes are connected and often share the same root causes, risk factors and protective factors. They can all take place under one roof, in the same community or neighborhood, at the same time, or at different stages of life. Understanding the overlapping causes of falls and the factors that can protect people and communities can help us better prevent negative health outcomes simultaneously.
Why Focus on SRPF’s? This framework or approach may help to:
- Break down the “silos” dividing programs and the prevention of health conditions
- Prevent multiple negative health outcomes simultaneously
- Develop new partnerships
- Leverage resources/funding streams
- Increase efficiency of efforts
- Consider a larger pool of strategies and program options
- Increase reach and scale up impact of programs and strategies
An example of SRPFs in Falls Prevention:
- Risk factor: social isolation is a risk factor for falls as well as for suicide and substance use disorder, and/ medication misuse. Protective factor: community connectedness is a protective factor for each of these issues. How can we think about falls prevention strategies that can be done in a way that also builds community connectedness? What potential partners or sectors might be working on decreasing social isolation and/or building community connectedness that may become interested in falls prevention work? Are there evidence-based strategies for building community connectedness that can be wrapped around falls prevention programming? For example, adding in a component before or after a Moving for Better Balance class? Or ensuring that classes are planned in a setting that also decreases social isolation? What about reaching folks who are the most isolated – can we try to link up with mental health services?
Falls increase the risk of traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) and TBIs themselves increase the risk of falls. How can we think about prevention of both factors simultaneously? Are there some common root causes across linked topics that can be our focus rather than each condition separately?