Factors Associated With Fall Risk Perception Among Community-Dwelling Older Patients With Stroke: A Cross-Sectional...

This study aimed to investigate the level of fall risk perception and its influencing factors among community-dwelling older patients with stroke.

A cross-sectional design.

From December 2023 to March 2024, convenience sampling was used to select participants from the community of older stroke patients who were discharged from the neurology department of two general hospitals in Wuxi City, Jiangsu Province, and returned to the home environment. Questionnaires were used to measure demographic information and disease-related details, fear of falling, fall risk perception, fall efficacy, aging attitudes, self-stereotyping of aging, social support, self-management behaviors for fall prevention, and international physical activity. Descriptive statistics, Pearson and Spearman correlation analyses, t-tests, one-way ANOVA, and multiple linear regression models were used.

The score of fall risk perception of older patients with stroke in the community was 42.16 ± 11.59. Fall history, fear of falling, fall efficacy, aging attitudes, social support, and self-management behaviors for fall prevention were associated with fall risk perception.

The fall risk perception among community-dwelling older patients with stroke requires enhancement. Community health professionals should develop tailored intervention programs aimed at improving patients' fall risk perception.