Citation

Schmid AA, Van Puymbroeck M, Knies K, Spangler-Morris C, Watts K, Damush T, Williams LS. Am. J. Occup. Ther. 2011; 65(2): 125-132.

Affiliation

Roudebush Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Health Services Research and Development Center on Implementing Evidence-Based Practice, 1481 West 10th Street, 11H, Indianapolis, IN, USA. arlene.schmid@va.gov

Copyright

(Copyright © 2011, American Occupational Therapy Association)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

21476359

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: Fear of falling (FoF) after stroke is not well understood. We assessed change in FoF over the first 6 mo after a stroke and compared 6-mo anxiety, depression, balance, and quality of life (QoL) scores between people with and without baseline FoF (at the time of hospital discharge). METHOD: Data for this longitudinal study were collected at baseline and 6 mo. Of the 28 people included at baseline, 18 remained in the study 6 mo later. RESULTS: FoF significantly decreased over time (p = .015). Participants with baseline FoF had higher 6-mo anxiety and depression scores (s = .002 and .005, respectively) and lower QoL scores (p < .001) than did those without baseline FoF. CONCLUSION: The results are suggestive of the need for occupational therapists and their colleagues to consider anxiety and depression variables in managing the needs of poststroke participants experiencing FoF.

Language: en