Falls prevention in people with breast cancer: a survey of current physiotherapist practices

To examine the current falls prevention knowledge, beliefs and practices of physiotherapists providing clinical care to people with breast cancer.

A cross-sectional online survey of currently registered, practising Australian physiotherapists was conducted. The survey was developed and reported using the Checklist for Reporting Results of Internet E-Surveys (CHERRIES) checklist, with data analysed descriptively or using bivariate tests. Free-text responses to open-ended questions were classified into key themes for analysis.

Forty-two physiotherapists completed the survey, of which 55% (23/42) believed that people with breast cancer had a higher risk of falls compared to the general population. Whilst most respondents received prior training in assessing and managing falls risk factors (30/42; 71%), they reported only moderate confidence in assessing and delivering falls prevention care to people with breast cancer (median 6; IQR 4). Only half of respondents (20/38; 53%) routinely asked about falls history although 61% assessed standing balance (23/38) either through an overall functional assessment (16/38; 42%) or using specific balance measures (7/38; 18%).

Further resources and training for physiotherapists may be required to optimise their skills and confidence, and to embed best-practice falls prevention strategies into the physiotherapy care of people with breast cancer.