Application of computational techniques to support case management-based interventions for fall prevention in community-dwelling older adults

• Grant number: 25/05586-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: September 01, 2025
• End date: August 31, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Computer Science - Computing Methodologies and Techniques
• Principal Investigator: Jean Roberto Ponciano
• Grantee: Raul Ribeiro Teles
• Host Institution: Instituto de Ciências Matemáticas e de Computação (ICMC). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Carlos , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Preventing falls in older adults is of great importance, given the increase in life expectancy and the consequences that a fall can bring in the physical (such as fractures, hospitalizations, death), social (isolation, family burden), and economic (costs for the individual, family, and healthcare system) spheres. In this context, the CNPq research group Abordagem funcional e multiprofissional em Gerontologia (Department of Gerontology/UFSCar) conducts case management-based interventions for fall prevention in community-dwelling older adults in São Carlos-SP and the surrounding region. Following the intervention addressed by the FAPESP Regular Project 2021/00181-1 (which has already concluded), the group's researchers analyzed its effectiveness --- in terms of adherence and satisfaction of the participating older adults --- using statistical and descriptive analyses of the collected data. This Scientific Initiation (IC) project will be conducted at the Institute of Mathematics and Computer Sciences of the University of São Paulo (ICMC/USP), has an expected duration of one year, and aims to contribute to gerontology researchers by applying Artificial Intelligence, data mining, and visualization techniques that allow for the extraction of new knowledge and learning from the historical data of the conducted intervention. This will provide new insights and discoveries involving fall patterns, groups of older adults, and other aspects of interest --- useful information that will assist specialists and researchers in new interventions, supporting and facilitating their decision-making, and potentially motivating new studies. The project will be developed in the Database and Image Group (GBDI) at ICMC/USP, a research group with extensive experience in the analysis and manipulation of medical and health data. The student will thus have all the resources and conditions to carry out the project successfully.