title: Accidental Fall Rates in Community-Dwelling Adults Compared to Cancer Survivors During and Post-Treatment: A Systematic Review With Meta-Analysis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To identify whether rates of accidental falls are greater for cancer survivors living in the community during or post-treatment than people with no history of cancer. .
  
  
  METHODS
  In a systematic literature review that was conducted in December 2013, MEDLINE®, EMBASE, PubMed, and Web of Science were searched for cancer or oncology and accidental falls in prospective and retrospective cohort and case-controlled studies. Studies were included if they were conducted in a community-dwelling adult population and excluded if they were conducted in acute hospitals and hospice. .
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 484 articles initially identified, 10 were included in the review. Of these, three included a control or comparator group and had comparable outcome measures to include in a meta-analysis. The risk ratio for falls for the group with cancer was 1.11. .
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Accidental fall rates in community-dwelling adults with a cancer diagnosis are greater than rates of falls in adults without cancer; this elevated rate remains after acute care is finished. Patients undergoing active treatment have greater rates of falls. Pain, fatigue, and deconditioning may affect fall rates in the longer term.  .
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Nurses have the capacity to reduce risk of falls in community-dwelling cancer survivors during or post-treatment through provision of information, advocacy, and support around pain and fatigue management and promotion of physical activity.
authors.affiliation: University of Tasmania.
authors.forename: Marie-Louise
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Bird
authors.affiliation: University of Tasmania.
authors.forename: Michael J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Cheney
authors.affiliation: University of Tasmania.
authors.forename: Andrew D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Williams
mesh_terms: D000058:Accidental Falls / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D057187:Independent Living / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000451:nursing*; D009859:Oncology Nursing / Q000379:methods; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D017741:Survivors / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*
keywords: adverse events; morbidity; oncology; quality of life; screening