Factors Associated with Fear of Fall and Impact on Social Participation in People with Chronic Stroke Living in Community

Abstract

Factors associated with fear of fall (FOF) have been well known in stroke patients but the impact of fall-related factors on social participation is limited. The objective of the present study was to assess the factors associated with FOF and impact of fall-related factors on the social participation in chronic ambulatory stroke patients. A community-based cross-sectional observational design was used for the present study. Thirty chronic ambulatory stroke patients (21 males and 9 females) were enrolled for the study. Fall Efficacy Scale-International (FES-I), and Participation scale (P-Scale) were used as outcome measures. The physical factors (BMI, BBS and gait speed) and psychological factors (Hospital Anxiety Depression Scale) were recorded. The mean age of the subjects participating in the study was 62.40 ± 13.51. Fourteen (46.67%) subjects were fallers and 16 (53.33%) were non-fallers. Anxiety (r = 0.554), depression (r = 0.625) and social participation restriction (r = 0.491) had positive influence on FOF, whereas balance (r = -0.778) and gait speed (r = -0.656) had negative influence on FOF. Social participation restriction was also influenced by depression (r = 0.400) and balance (r = -0.540). FOF was associated with physical (balance, gait speed) as well as psychological factors (anxiety and depression). Social participation restriction was associated with depression, balance and FOF but not anxiety and gait speed of the patients.

Keywords: Fear of fall, participation, stroke, Fall Efficacy Scale-International (FES-I), P-Scale

Cite this Article

Jaiswal B, Warikoo D, Bhatt S. Factors Associated with Fear of Fall and Impact on Social Participation in People with Chronic Stroke Living in Community. Research & Reviews: Journal of Health Professions. 2016; 6(1):22–33p