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OBJECTIVES:  To determine the effectiveness of vitamin D and home‐based quadriceps resistance exercise on reducing falls and improving the physical health of frail older people after hospital discharge.

DESIGN:   Multicenter, randomized, controlled trial with a factorial design.

SETTING:   Five hospitals in Auckland, New Zealand, and Sydney, Australia.

PARTICIPANTS:   Two hundred forty‐three frail older people.

INTERVENTIONS:   Patients were randomized to receive a single dose of vitamin D (calciferol, 300,000 IU) or placebo tablets and 10 weeks of high‐intensity home‐based quadriceps resistance exercise or frequency‐matched visits.

MEASUREMENTS:   The primary endpoints were physical health according to the short‐form health survey at 3 months and falls over 6 months. Physical performance and self‐rated function were secondary endpoints. Assessments took place in the participants' …