title: Fear of falling in patients with hip fractures: prevalence and related psychological factors.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the prevalence of fear of falling (FoF) in patients after a hip fracture, to investigate the relation with time after fracture, and to assess associations between FoF and other psychological factors.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional study performed between September 2010 and March 2011 in elderly patients after a hip fracture.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ten postacute geriatric rehabilitation wards in Dutch nursing homes.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 100 patients aged ≥65 years with a hip fracture admitted to a geriatric rehabilitation ward.
  
  
  METHODS
  FoF and related concepts such as falls-related self-efficacy, depression, and anxiety were measured by means of self-assessment instruments.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of all patients, 36% had a little FoF and 27% had quite a bit or very much FoF. Scores on the Falls Efficacy Scale-International were 30.6 in the first 4 weeks after hip fracture, 35.6 in the second 4 weeks, and 29.4 in the period ≥8 weeks after fracture. In these 3 periods, the prevalence rates of FoF were 62%, 68%, and 59%, respectively. Significant correlations were found between FoF and anxiety (P < .001), and self-efficacy (P < .001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In these patients with a hip fracture, FoF is common and is correlated with anxiety and falls-related self-efficacy. During rehabilitation, FoF is greatest in the second 4 weeks after hip fracture. More studies are needed to explore the determinants of FoF and develop interventions to reduce FoF and improve outcome after rehabilitation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands. jan.visschedijk@zorggroepsolis.nl
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Visschedijk
authors.forename: Romke
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: van Balen
authors.forename: Cees
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hertogh
authors.forename: Wilco
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Achterberg
mesh_terms: D000058:Accidental Falls / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000368:Aged; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005239:Fear; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D006620:Hip Fractures / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009426:Netherlands / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors