title: Six-month prospective study of fall risk factors identification in patients post-stroke.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine if the findings at month 1 could correctly identify stroke patients who fell in the 6 months post-stroke; and to describe the characteristics of fallers and non-fallers, and their courses of recovery.
  
  
  METHODS
  Of 133 volunteers who had their first stroke, 98 participants completed the assessment three times. Fall incidence and history were collected by telephone every 2 weeks and recorded. Fear of falling measured by the Fall Efficacy Scale (FES-S), the amount of time that physical therapy was received, and standardized outcome measures according to the International Classification Functioning, Disability and Health model were measured at month 1, 3 and 6 after stroke. The Berg Balance Scale, Barthel Index, Timed Up & Go, 10-m (10mWT) and 2-min walks and participation subscore of Stroke Impact Scale were used for assessment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 25 patients (25%) fell in the 6 months; 13 had multiple falls. Fallers showed less improvement in impairments, activity and community participation compared with non-fallers. The risk of falling was greater than 1 (odds ratio [OR]) when assessed by all outcome measures at month 1, and was double at month 3. The FES-S ≥ 33 at month 1 could accurately identify a faller (OR 2.99, 95% confidence interval 1.07-8.37), moderate to high sensitivity (76%), specificity (49%), and positive and negative predicted value (34% and 85%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Fear of falling was the best indicator of falling. Receiving physical therapy after a stroke seems to highly contribute to improved functional independence of activities in daily living, and increased self-confidence and cognitive function.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Physical Therapy, Mahidol University, Salaya, Thailand.
authors.forename: Chutima
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Jalayondeja
authors.forename: Patricia E
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: Sullivan
authors.forename: Sopa
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pichaiyongwongdee
mesh_terms: D000058:Accidental Falls / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005239:Fear / Q000523:psychology*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities; D004856:Postural Balance; D011446:Prospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment / Q000379:methods*; D012307:Risk Factors; D020521:Stroke / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D000071939:Stroke Rehabilitation; D013785:Thailand / Q000453:epidemiology; D013997:Time Factors
keywords: Disability and Health model; International Classification Functioning; cerebrovascular disease; falls; fear of falling