title: Effects of a multifactorial falls prevention program for people with stroke returning home after rehabilitation: a randomized controlled trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine whether a multifactorial falls prevention program reduces falls in people with stroke at risk of recurrent falls and whether this program leads to improvements in gait, balance, strength, and fall-related efficacy.
  
  
  METHODS
  A single blind, multicenter, randomized controlled trial with 12-month follow-up.
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants were recruited after discharge from rehabilitation and followed up in the community.
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants (N=156) were people with stroke at risk of recurrent falls being discharged home from rehabilitation.
  
  
  METHODS
  Tailored multifactorial falls prevention program and usual care (n=71) or control (usual care, n=85).
  
  
  METHODS
  Primary outcomes were rate of falls and proportion of fallers. Secondary outcomes included injurious falls, falls risk, participation, activity, leg strength, gait speed, balance, and falls efficacy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was no significant difference in fall rate (intervention: 1.89 falls/person-year, control: 1.76 falls/person-year, incidence rate ratio=1.10, P=.74) or the proportion of fallers between the groups (risk ratio=.83, 95% confidence interval=.60-1.14). There was no significant difference in injurious fall rate (intervention: .74 injurious falls/person-year, control: .49 injurious falls/person-year, incidence rate ratio=1.57, P=.25), and there were no significant differences between groups on any other secondary outcome.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This multifactorial falls prevention program was not effective in reducing falls in people with stroke who are at risk of falls nor was it more effective than usual care in improving gait, balance, and strength in people with stroke. Further research is required to identify effective interventions for this high-risk group.
authors.affiliation: National Ageing Research Institute, Parkville, Victoria, Australia. f.batchelor@nari.unimelb.edu.au
authors.forename: Frances A
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Batchelor
authors.forename: Keith D
authors.initials: KD
authors.lastname: Hill
authors.forename: Shylie F
authors.initials: SF
authors.lastname: Mackintosh
authors.forename: Catherine M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Said
authors.forename: Craig H
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Whitehead
mesh_terms: D000058:Accidental Falls / Q000517:prevention & control*; D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D053580:Muscle Strength; D010349:Patient Compliance; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000379:methods*; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D000071939:Stroke Rehabilitation