Fall-related experiences of stroke survivors: a meta-ethnography

PURPOSE: Health professionals view falls after stroke as common adverse events with both physical and psychological consequences. Stroke survivors' experiences are less well understood. The aim of this systematic review was to explore the perception of falls-risk within the stroke recovery experience from the perspective of people with stroke. METHODS: A systematic literature search was conducted. Papers that used qualitative methods to explore the experiences of individuals with stroke around falls, falls-risk and fear of falling were included. Two reviewers independently assessed the methodological quality of papers. Meta-ethnography was conducted. Concepts from each study were translated into each other to form theories that were combined through a "lines-of-argument" synthesis. RESULTS: Four themes emerged from the six included qualitative studies: (i) Fall circumstances, (ii) perception of fall consequences, (iii) barriers to community participation and (iv) coping strategies. The synthesis revealed that stroke survivors' perceived consequences of falls exist on a continuum. Cognitive and emotional adjustment may be required in the successful adoption of coping strategies to overcome fall-related barriers to participation. CONCLUSIONS: Stroke survivors' fall-related experiences appear to exist within the context of activity and community participation. Further research is warranted due to the small number of substantive studies available for synthesis. Implications for Rehabilitation Health care professionals should recognize that cognitive and emotional adjustment may berequired for stroke survivors to accept strategies for overcoming falls-risk, including dependenceon carers and assistive devices. Several factors in addition to physical interventions may be needed to minimize falls-risk whileincreasing activity participation. These factors could include increasing public awareness about the effects of stroke and falls-risk,and ensuring access to psychological services for stroke survivors. Rehabilitation professionals should reflect on whether they perceive there to be an appropriatelevel of fear of falling post-stroke. They should understand that stroke survivors might not conceptualize falls-risk in this way.PURPOSE: Health professionals view falls after stroke as common adverse events with both physical and psychological consequences. Stroke survivors' experiences are less well understood. The aim of this systematic review was to explore the perception of falls-risk within the stroke recovery experience from the perspective of people with stroke. METHODS: A systematic literature search was conducted. Papers that used qualitative methods to explore the experiences of individuals with stroke around falls, falls-risk and fear of falling were included. Two reviewers independently assessed the methodological quality of papers. Meta-ethnography was conducted. Concepts from each study were translated into each other to form theories that were combined through a "lines-of-argument" synthesis. RESULTS: Four themes emerged from the six included qualitative studies: (i) Fall circumstances, (ii) perception of fall consequences, (iii) barriers to community participation and (iv) coping strategies. The synthesis revealed that stroke survivors' perceived consequences of falls exist on a continuum. Cognitive and emotional adjustment may be required in the successful adoption of coping strategies to overcome fall-related barriers to participation. CONCLUSIONS: Stroke survivors' fall-related experiences appear to exist within the context of activity and community participation. Further research is warranted due to the small number of substantive studies available for synthesis. Implications for Rehabilitation Health care professionals should recognize that cognitive and emotional adjustment may berequired for stroke survivors to accept strategies for overcoming falls-risk, including dependenceon carers and assistive devices. Several factors in addition to physical interventions may be needed to minimize falls-risk whileincreasing activity participation. These factors could include increasing public awareness about the effects of stroke and falls-risk,and ensuring access to psychological services for stroke survivors. Rehabilitation professionals should reflect on whether they perceive there to be an appropriatelevel of fear of falling post-stroke. They should understand that stroke survivors might not conceptualize falls-risk in this way

Systematic review of risk prediction models for falls after stroke

BACKGROUND: Falls are a significant cause of morbidity after stroke. The aim of this review was to identify, critically appraise and summarise risk prediction models for the occurrence of falling after stroke. METHODS: A systematic literature search was conducted in December 2014 and repeated in June 2015. Studies that used multivariable analysis to build risk prediction models for falls early after stroke were included. 2 reviewers independently assessed methodological quality. Data relating to model calibration, discrimination (C-statistic) and clinical utility (sensitivity and specificity) were extracted. A narrative review of models was conducted. PROSPERO reference: CRD42014015612. RESULTS: The 12 included articles presented 18 risk prediction models. 7 studies predicted falls among inpatients only and 5 recorded falls in the community. Methodological quality was variable. A C-statistic was reported for 7 models and values ranged from 0.62 to 0.87. Models for use in the inpatient setting most frequently included measures of hemi-inattention, while those predicting community events included falls (or near-falls) history and balance measures most commonly. Only 2 studies reported any form of validation, and none presented a validated model with acceptable performance. CONCLUSIONS: A number of falls-risk prediction models have been developed for use in the acute and subacute stages of stroke. Future research should focus on validating and improving existing models, with reference to the Transparent Reporting of a multivariable prediction model for Individual Prognosis Or Diagnosis (TRIPOD) guidelines to ensure quality reporting and expedite clinical implementation.BACKGROUND: Falls are a significant cause of morbidity after stroke. The aim of this review was to identify, critically appraise and summarise risk prediction models for the occurrence of falling after stroke. METHODS: A systematic literature search was conducted in December 2014 and repeated in June 2015. Studies that used multivariable analysis to build risk prediction models for falls early after stroke were included. 2 reviewers independently assessed methodological quality. Data relating to model calibration, discrimination (C-statistic) and clinical utility (sensitivity and specificity) were extracted. A narrative review of models was conducted. PROSPERO reference: CRD42014015612. RESULTS: The 12 included articles presented 18 risk prediction models. 7 studies predicted falls among inpatients only and 5 recorded falls in the community. Methodological quality was variable. A C-statistic was reported for 7 models and values ranged from 0.62 to 0.87. Models for use in the inpatient setting most frequently included measures of hemi-inattention, while those predicting community events included falls (or near-falls) history and balance measures most commonly. Only 2 studies reported any form of validation, and none presented a validated model with acceptable performance. CONCLUSIONS: A number of falls-risk prediction models have been developed for use in the acute and subacute stages of stroke. Future research should focus on validating and improving existing models, with reference to the Transparent Reporting of a multivariable prediction model for Individual Prognosis Or Diagnosis (TRIPOD) guidelines to ensure quality reporting and expedite clinical implementation

Is the Timed Up and Go test a useful predictor of risk of falls in community dwelling older adults: a systematic review and meta- analysis

Background: The Timed Up and Go test (TUG) is a commonly used screening tool to assist clinicians to identify patients at risk of falling. The purpose of this systematic review and meta-analysis is to determine the overall predictive value of the TUG in community-dwelling older adults. Methods: A literature search was performed to identify all studies that validated the TUG test. The methodological quality of the selected studies was assessed using the QUADAS-2 tool, a validated tool for the quality assessment of diagnostic accuracy studies. A TUG score of ≥13.5 seconds was used to identify individuals at higher risk of falling. All included studies were combined using a bivariate random effects model to generate pooled estimates of sensitivity and specificity at ≥13.5 seconds. Heterogeneity was assessed using the variance of logit transformed sensitivity and specificity. Results: Twenty-five studies were included in the systematic review and 10 studies were included in meta-analysis. The TUG test was found to be more useful at ruling in rather than ruling out falls in individuals classified as high risk (>13.5 sec), with a higher pooled specificity (0.74, 95% CI 0.52-0.88) than sensitivity (0.31, 95% CI 0.13-0.57). Logistic regression analysis indicated that the TUG score is not a significant predictor of falls (OR = 1.01, 95% CI 1.00-1.02, p = 0.05). Conclusion: The Timed Up and Go test has limited ability to predict falls in community dwelling elderly and should not be used in isolation to identify individuals at high risk of falls in this setting

Additional exercise therapy for the recovery of function after stroke (Protocol)

To assess whether additional exercise therapy has an impact on recovery following stroke when compared with routine exercise therapy. The specific objectives of this review are twofold: 1. To examine the impact of additional exercise therapy time on functional recovery following stroke by reviewing RCTs that assess the effects of additional exercise therapy when compared with routine exercise therapy. 2. To determine a minimum threshold of additional exercise therapy time provided to the experimental group below which no clinically relevant benefit is observe

Falls related EvEnts in the first year after StrokE in Ireland: results of the multi-centre prospective FREESE cohort study

Introduction: Falls are common post-stroke adverse events. This study aimed to describe the first-year falls incidence, circumstances and consequences among persons discharged home after stroke in Ireland, and to examine the association between potential risk factors and recurrent falls. Patients and Methods: Patients with acute stroke and planned home-discharge were recruited consecutively from five hospitals. Variables recorded pre-discharge included: age, stroke severity, comorbidities, fall history, prescribed medications, hemi-neglect, cognition, and functional independence (Barthel Index). Falls were recorded with monthly diaries, and six and 12-month interviews. The association of pre-discharge factors with recurrent falls (>1 fall) was examined using univariable logistic regression. Results: 128 participants (mean age=68.6, SD=13.3) were recruited. 110 completed 12-month follow-up. The first-year falls-incidence was 44.5% (95%CI=35.1-53.6) with 25.6% falling repeatedly (95%CI=18.5- 34.4). Fallers experienced 1-18 falls (median=2) and five reported fractures. 47% of fallers experienced at least one fall outdoors. Only 10% of recurrent fallers had bone health medication prescribed at discharge. Lower Barthel Index scores (<75/100, RR=4.38, 1.64-11.72) and psychotropic medication prescription (RR=2.10, 1.13-3.91) were associated with recurrent falls. Discussion: This study presents prospectively collected information about falls circumstances. It was not powered for multivariable analysis of risk factors. Conclusion: One quarter of stroke survivors discharged to the community fall repeatedly and mostly indoors in the first year. Specific attention may be required for individuals with poor functional independence or those on psychotropic medication. Future falls-management research in this population should explore falls in younger individuals, outdoor as well as indoor falls and post-stroke bone health status

First year post-stroke healthcare costs and fall-status among those discharged in the community

Introduction: Falls are common post-stroke events but their relationship with healthcare costs is unclear. The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between healthcare costs in the first year after stroke and falls among survivors discharged to the community. Patients and Methods: Survivors of acute stroke with planned home-discharges from five large hospitals in Ireland were recruited. Falls and healthcare utilisation data were recorded using inpatient records, monthly calendars and post-discharge interviews. Cost of stroke was estimated for each participant from hospital admission for one year. The association of fall-status with overall cost was tested with multivariable linear regression analysis adjusting for pre-stroke function, stroke severity, age and living situation. Results: 109 stroke survivors with complete follow-up data (mean age=68.5 years (SD=13.5 years)) were included. 53 participants (49%) fell following stroke, of whom 28 (26%) had recurrent falls. Estimated mean total healthcare cost was €20,244 (SD=€23,456). The experience of one fall and recurrent falls was independently associated with higher costs of care (p=0.02 and p<0.01, respectively). Discussion: The observed relationship between falls and cost is likely to be underestimated as aids and adaptions, productivity losses, and nursing home care were not included. Conclusion: This study points at differences across fall-status in several healthcare costs categories, namely the index admission, secondary/ tertiary care (including inpatient re-admissions) and allied health care. Future research could compare the cost-effectiveness of inpatient versus communitybased fall-prevention after stroke. Further studies are also required to inform post-stroke bone-health management and fracture-risk reduction

Validation of two risk-prediction models for recurrent falls in the first year after stroke: a prospective cohort study

Background: Several multivariable models have been derived to predict post-stroke falls. These require validation before integration into clinical practice. The aim of this study was to externally validate two prediction models for recurrent falls in the first year post-stroke using an Irish prospective cohort study. Methodology: Stroke patients with planned home-discharges from five hospitals were recruited. Falls were recorded with monthly diaries and interviews six and 12 months post-discharge. Predictors for falls included in two risk-prediction models were assessed at discharge. Participants were classified into risk-groups using these models. Model 1, incorporating inpatient falls-history and balance, had a six-month outcome. Model 2, incorporating inpatient near-falls history and upper limb function, had a twelve-month outcome. Measures of calibration, discrimination (area under the curve (AUC)) and clinical utility (sensitivity/ specificity) were calculated. Results: 128 participants (mean age=68.6 years, SD=13.3) were recruited. The fall status of 117 and 110 participants was available at six and 12 months respectively. Seventeen and 28 participants experienced recurrent falls by these respective timepoints. Model 1 achieved an AUC=0.56 (95% CI 0.46–0.67), sensitivity=18.8% and specificity=93.6%. Model 2 achieved AUC=0.55 (95% CI 0.44–0.66), sensitivity=51.9% and specificity=58.7%. Model 1 showed no significant difference between predicted and observed events (Risk Ratio (RR)=0.87, 95% CI 0.16–4.62). In contrast, model 2 significantly over-predicted fall events in the validation cohort (RR=1.61, 95% CI 1.04–2.48). Conclusions: Both models showed poor discrimination for predicting recurrent falls. A further large prospective cohort study would be required to derive a clinicallyuseful falls-risk prediction model for a similar population

Enhancing existing formal home care to improve and maintain functional status in older adults: protocol for a feasibility study on the implementation of the Care to Move (CTM) programme in an Irish healthcare setting

An increasing ageing population leads to greater demand for care services to help maintain people in their own homes. Physical activity programmes have been shown to improve older adults’ functional capacity, enabling the older adult to live independently and maintain functional status. There has been a lack of quality research conducted around physical activity within the landscape of home care services. We describe a feasibility study of implementing the Care to Move (CTM) programme in older adults receiving low-level home care. A Phase 1 mixed-methods feasibility study design will explore the recruitment, attrition, retention, costs to deliver and data loss. It will also explore the acceptability and impact of the CTM programme on older adults and thematic analysis of data collected from older people, home care workers and relevant stakeholders through use of semi-structured interviews and focus groups. We will measure functional status and fall outcomes in older adults receiving low levels of home care, facilitating this population to continue living independently at home and providing data currently not known around this group