@article{ref1,
title="Effects of a multi-factorial falls prevention program for people with stroke returning home after rehabilitation: a randomized controlled trial",
journal="Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitation",
year="2012",
author="Batchelor, Frances A. and Hill, Keith D. and Mackintosh, Shylie F. and Said, Catherine M. and Whitehead, Craig H.",
volume="93",
number="9",
pages="1648-1655",
abstract="OBJECTIVES: To determine whether a multi-factorial falls prevention program reduces falls in people with stroke at risk of recurrent falls, and to determine whether this program leads to improvements in gait, balance, strength and fall-related efficacy. DESIGN: A single blind, multi-center, randomized controlled trial with 12 month follow-up. SETTING: Participants were recruited after discharge from rehabilitation and followed up in the community. PARTICIPANTS: Participants (N=156) were people with stroke at risk of recurrent falls being discharged home from rehabilitation. INTERVENTIONS: Tailored multi-factorial falls prevention program and usual care, (N=71) or control (usual care, N=85). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: 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, IRR=1.10, P=0.74) or proportion of fallers between the groups (RR=0.83, 95%CI 0.60 - 1.14). There was no significant difference in injurious fall rate (intervention 0.74 injurious falls/person-year, control 0.49 injurious falls/person-year, IRR=1.57, P=0.25), and there were no significant differences between groups on any other secondary outcome. CONCLUSIONS: his 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.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="0003-9993",
doi="10.1016/j.apmr.2012.03.031",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.apmr.2012.03.031"
}