Optimizing falls risk prediction for inpatient stroke rehabilitation: A secondary data analysis.

Background: Identifying individuals at risk for falls during inpatient stroke rehabilitation can ensure timely implementation of falls prevention strategies to minimize the negative personal and health system consequences of falls.

Objectives: To compare sociodemographic and clinical characteristics of fallers and non-fallers; and evaluate the ability of the Berg Balance Scale (BBS) and Morse Falls Scale (MFS) to predict falls in an inpatient stroke rehabilitation setting.

Methods: A longitudinal study involving a secondary analysis of health record data from 818 patients with stroke admitted to an urban, rehabilitation hospital was conducted.