Comparing Falls Efficacy Scale-International and Berg Balance Scale in Predicting Recurrent Risk of Fall in Stroke Patients

Stroke patients often experience falls with potentially serious consequences. Associated factors with falling in stroke patients have already been identified. The present study was conducted to find a better assessment tool for measuring the risk of falling, Fear of Falling (FOF), and balance between Falls Efficacy Scale-International (FES-I) and Berg Balance Scale (BBS).
One hundred stroke patients were recruited from the physiotherapy clinics affiliated to Tehran University of Medical Sciences (TUMS) based on inclusive criteria to administer two predictive scales; FES-I and BBS. In 16-item FES-I, face to face interview provide information on FOF in daily life activities. BBS is used to measure the FOF during sitting, standing, and postural changes (reaching, balancing on one limb and transferring). Data were analyzed on the basis of age, post stroke duration, history of falling since disease onset and in the last 6 months as well as risk of falling.
Based on FES-I scale, the majority (69.8%) of old patients (50-64 years) showed low risk of falls and according to BBS, the majority of the stroke patients older than 64 years had high concern for falling. Both genders showed low concern for falling on FES-I and BBS scales and the results were not significant. On BBS, the falling concern was more among those who had one falling during the last 6 months.
BBS is more relevant to predict the risk of falls among Iranian stroke patients and is also easy to administer at the stroke centers with minimum equipment.