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Fear of Falling in Patients With Chronic Stroke

Effects of Combining Cognitive Behavioural Therapy With Task-oriented Balance Training for Reducing Fear of Falling in People With Chronic Stroke: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Status
Completed
Phases
NA
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT02937532
Enrollment
89
Registered
2016-10-18
Start date
2016-10-31
Completion date
2018-09-30
Last updated
2019-01-15

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Stroke

Keywords

Fear of falling, Fear avoidance behavior, cognitive behavioral therapy, Rehabilitation

Brief summary

The aim of the study is to evaluate whether combining cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) with task-oriented balance training (TOBT) is more effective than general health education (GHE) together with TOBT in promoting fear of falling and reducing activity avoidance behavior.

Detailed description

The null hypothesis of this study will be that no significant difference in the efficacy of the two treatments (CBT + TOBT; GHE + TOBT) in promoting fear of falling and reducing fear avoidance behavior, and thus no significant difference in improving balance ability, reducing fall risks, improving health-related quality of life and community reintegration of people with stroke.

Interventions

BEHAVIORALGHE + TOBT training

All subjects will receive 45 minutes of GHE, followed by 45 minutes of TOBT program twice a week for 8 weeks.

BEHAVIORALCBT + TOBT training

All subjects will receive 45 minutes of CBT, followed by 45 minutes of TOBT program twice a week for 8 weeks.

Sponsors

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
SUPPORTIVE_CARE
Masking
SINGLE (Outcomes Assessor)

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
55 Years to 85 Years
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

Subjects will be included if they * are between 55 and 85 years of age; * have been diagnosed with a first unilateral ischemic brain injury or intracerebral hemorrhage by magnetic resonance imaging or computed tomography within the previous 1 to 6 years; * have been discharged from all rehabilitation services at least 6 months before program begins; * are able to work independently at least 10 meters with or without an assistive device; * have low balance self-efficacy (The Activities-specific Balance Confidence scale score of \<80); * are able to score \> 7 out of 10 on the Chinese version of Abbreviated Mental Test; and * are able to follow instructions and provide written informed consent.

Exclusion criteria

Subjects will be excluded if they * have any additional medical, cardiovascular, orthopaedic, or psychiatric or psychological condition that would hinder proper treatment or assessment; * have receptive dysphasia; * have significant lower peripheral neuropathy; or * are involved in a drug studies or other clinical trial.

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
The Chinese version of the Activities-specific Balance Confidence scale (ABC-C)2 yearsThe ABC-C be used to assess the level of fear of falling. The ABC-C consisted of 16 items reflecting the level of balance confidence from 0% (no confidence) to 100% (complete confidence)

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
The Chinese version of the Community Integration Measure (CIM-C)2 yearsThe CIM-C consisted of 10 items soliciting on a 5-point scale in which the higher the score indicating the higher level of community integration.
The Chinese version of the Short Form General Health Questionnaire (SF-36-C)2 yearsThe SF-36-C will be used to measure the health-related quality of life. It consisted of 2 scales, the physical health summary and mental health summary, rating on a two- to six-point Likert scale ranging from 0 to 100 each subscale. The higher the score indicating the higher level of health-related quality of life.
The Chinese version of the Lawton Instrumental Activities of Daily Living scale (IADL-C)2 yearsThe IADL-C will be used to assess the ability of participants to live independently at home and community. The IADL-C included 9 items rating on a 3-point scale ranging from 0 to 18. Higher score indicates better performance.
Berg Balance Scale2 yearsThe BBS to assess the clinical balance. It consisted of 14 items with scoring from 0 to 56. The higher the score indicates the better balance performance.
The Short-form Physiological Profile Assessment (S-PPA)2 yearsThe S-PPA will be used to assess the fall risk ranging from -2 to 4. The higher the score represents the lower the fall risk.
The Chinese version of the Survey of Activities and Fear of Falling in the Elderly (SAFFE-C)2 yearsThe SAFFE-C will be used to assessed the level of fear avoidance behavior. It consisted of 22 items rating on a 4-point Likert scale ranging from 0 to 66. Lower score indicates less fear avoidance behaviors.

Countries

Hong Kong

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Mar 7, 2026