"We don't look too much into the communication disability": clinicians' views and experiences on the effect of communication disability on falls in hospital patients with stroke

Abstract

Purpose: Difficulty with communicating basic needs and attracting the attention of health professionals may contribute to falls for patients with communication disability after stroke. The aim of this study was to explore the views of hospital-based health professionals on: (a) the effect of communication disability on falls in patients with stroke; (b) falls prevention strategies for patients with communication disability following stroke; and (c) the roles of speech pathologists in the assessment, management, and prevention of falls in this population.

Materials and methods: Online focus groups were conducted and analysed using content thematic analysis.

Results: In total, 11 health professionals participated in four focus groups. Clinicians viewed that: (a) the effects of falls in patients with communication disability are far-reaching; (b) communication disability complicates falls risk assessment and falls management; (c) current falls prevention strategies do not meet the needs of patients with communication disability; and (d) strong relationships have a central role in decreasing falls in this population.

Conclusions: Health professionals articulate concerning gaps in falls prevention strategies for patients with communication disability. Further research should investigate strategies enabling falls prevention and management to be more inclusive of patients with communication disability following stroke and consider ways in which speech pathologists could contribute to this field.

Keywords: Communication disability; falls; falls research; inpatient; patient safety; stroke.