“Communication disability plays a massive role”: A research synthesis on management of hospital falls in patients with communication disability after stroke.
Tracks
6
Acquired brain injury/traumatic brain injury (ABI/TBI)
Adult
Aphasia
Motor speech
Stroke
| Saturday, June 14, 2025 |
| 11:20 AM - 11:30 AM |
Overview
Dr Rebecca Sullivan
Details
⏫ Research insights
⏲️11.20am - 11.40am
⌛20-minutes
📚 Assumed knowledge of attendees: Foundational (new/casual familiarity with the topic e.g. treated a single case)
⏲️11.20am - 11.40am
⌛20-minutes
📚 Assumed knowledge of attendees: Foundational (new/casual familiarity with the topic e.g. treated a single case)
Presenter
Dr Rebecca Sullivan
La Trobe University
“Communication disability plays a massive role”: A research synthesis on management of hospital falls in patients with communication disability after stroke.
11:20 AM - 11:40 AMPresentation summary
Objective: Hospital falls are a common adverse event following a stroke. Despite the prevalence of communication disability following stroke, there is little information on the relationship between communication disability and falls, or falls prevention strategies for this population.
Method: This presentation aims to enhance speech pathologists knowledge and skills in falls management of patients with communication disability by presenting a content thematic analysis of six integrated research studies examining this issue.
Results: The resulting four themes provide important insights into falls in patients with communication disability after stroke. The first theme, ‘An Invisible Problem’ reflects that communication disability is invisible, and that details of a patients communication skills or function and the role of this in a fall is often lacking. The second theme, ‘Painting the Falls Picture’ reflects the most common types of communication disability and the common circumstances of falls, providing essential context for speech pathologists. The third theme, ‘A Complex Problem’ outlines the multiple impacts of communication disability on falls management; including the relationship between the severity of communication disability, screening for potential communication related risk factors for falls, and the communication related barriers to identifying the circumstances of a falls, assessing a patient for injury and implementing successful falls prevention strategies. The fourth theme, ‘The Way Forward’ highlights potential falls prevention strategies including suggestions on how to identify aspects of communication disability that may contribute to falls, providing strategies for multidisciplinary teams to adapt communication in high risks falls tasks; and adapt falls prevention and stroke education programs to suit the patients needs and the role of family and friends.
Conclusion: Application of the learnings from this body of work into clinical practice could serve to progress and enhance falls prevention strategies in hospital settings for patients who experience stroke-related communication disability.
Method: This presentation aims to enhance speech pathologists knowledge and skills in falls management of patients with communication disability by presenting a content thematic analysis of six integrated research studies examining this issue.
Results: The resulting four themes provide important insights into falls in patients with communication disability after stroke. The first theme, ‘An Invisible Problem’ reflects that communication disability is invisible, and that details of a patients communication skills or function and the role of this in a fall is often lacking. The second theme, ‘Painting the Falls Picture’ reflects the most common types of communication disability and the common circumstances of falls, providing essential context for speech pathologists. The third theme, ‘A Complex Problem’ outlines the multiple impacts of communication disability on falls management; including the relationship between the severity of communication disability, screening for potential communication related risk factors for falls, and the communication related barriers to identifying the circumstances of a falls, assessing a patient for injury and implementing successful falls prevention strategies. The fourth theme, ‘The Way Forward’ highlights potential falls prevention strategies including suggestions on how to identify aspects of communication disability that may contribute to falls, providing strategies for multidisciplinary teams to adapt communication in high risks falls tasks; and adapt falls prevention and stroke education programs to suit the patients needs and the role of family and friends.
Conclusion: Application of the learnings from this body of work into clinical practice could serve to progress and enhance falls prevention strategies in hospital settings for patients who experience stroke-related communication disability.
Refrences
Denissen, S., Staring, W., Kunkel, D., Pickering, RM., Lennon, S., Geurts, AC., Weerdesteyn, V., & Verheyden, G. (2019). Interventions for preventing falls in people after stroke. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.cd008728.pub3
Elo, S., Kyngas, H. (2008). The qualitative content analysis process. Journal of Adanced Nursing, 62(1), 107-115. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2648.2007.04569.x
Morris, ME., Webster, K., Jones, C., Hill, AM, Haines, T., McPhail, S, Kiegaldie, D., Slade, S., Jazayeri, D., Heng, H., Shorr, R., Carey, L., Barker, A., & Cameron, I. (2022). Interventions to reduce falls in hospitals: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Age and Ageing, 51(5), 1-12. https://doi.org/10.1093/ageing/afac077
Sullivan, R., Harding, K., Skinner, I., & Hemsley, B. (2020). Falls in hospital patients with acquired communication disability secondary to stroke: A systematic review and meta-analysis. International Journal of Language & Communication Disorders, 55(6), 837-851. https://doi.org/10.1111/1460-6984.12570
Sullivan, R., Harding, K., Skinner, I., & Hemsley, B. (2021). Circumstances and outcomes of falls in hospital for adults with communication disability secondary to stroke: a qualitative synthesis. Advances in Communication and Swallowing, 24(2), 99-110. https://doi.org/10.3233/ACS-210028
Sullivan, R., Harding, K., Skinner, I., & Hemsley, B. (2023). Falls in patients with communication disability secondary to stroke. Clinical Nursing Research, 32(3), 478-489. https://doi.org/10.1177/10547738221144214
Sullivan, R., Hemsley, B., Harding, K., Skinner, I. (2023). “Patient unable to express why he was on the floor, he has aphasia.’ A content thematic analysis of medical records and incident reports on the falls of hospital patients with communication disability following stroke. International Journal of Language & Communication Disorders, 58(6), 2033-2048. https://doi.org/10.1111/1460-6984.12916
Sullivan, R., Hemsley, B., Skinner, I., Harding, K. (2023) Hospital policies on falls in relation to patients with communication disability: A scoping review and content analysis. Australian Health Review, 47(4), 487-493. https://doi.org/10.1071/AH22289.
Sullivan, R., Harding, K., Skinner, I., Hemsley, B. (2024). “We don’t look too much into the communication disability”: Clinicians’ views on the falls of hospital patients with communication disability following stroke. Disability and Rehabilitation, 1-11. https://doi.org/10.1080/09638288.2024.2324125
Elo, S., Kyngas, H. (2008). The qualitative content analysis process. Journal of Adanced Nursing, 62(1), 107-115. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2648.2007.04569.x
Morris, ME., Webster, K., Jones, C., Hill, AM, Haines, T., McPhail, S, Kiegaldie, D., Slade, S., Jazayeri, D., Heng, H., Shorr, R., Carey, L., Barker, A., & Cameron, I. (2022). Interventions to reduce falls in hospitals: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Age and Ageing, 51(5), 1-12. https://doi.org/10.1093/ageing/afac077
Sullivan, R., Harding, K., Skinner, I., & Hemsley, B. (2020). Falls in hospital patients with acquired communication disability secondary to stroke: A systematic review and meta-analysis. International Journal of Language & Communication Disorders, 55(6), 837-851. https://doi.org/10.1111/1460-6984.12570
Sullivan, R., Harding, K., Skinner, I., & Hemsley, B. (2021). Circumstances and outcomes of falls in hospital for adults with communication disability secondary to stroke: a qualitative synthesis. Advances in Communication and Swallowing, 24(2), 99-110. https://doi.org/10.3233/ACS-210028
Sullivan, R., Harding, K., Skinner, I., & Hemsley, B. (2023). Falls in patients with communication disability secondary to stroke. Clinical Nursing Research, 32(3), 478-489. https://doi.org/10.1177/10547738221144214
Sullivan, R., Hemsley, B., Harding, K., Skinner, I. (2023). “Patient unable to express why he was on the floor, he has aphasia.’ A content thematic analysis of medical records and incident reports on the falls of hospital patients with communication disability following stroke. International Journal of Language & Communication Disorders, 58(6), 2033-2048. https://doi.org/10.1111/1460-6984.12916
Sullivan, R., Hemsley, B., Skinner, I., Harding, K. (2023) Hospital policies on falls in relation to patients with communication disability: A scoping review and content analysis. Australian Health Review, 47(4), 487-493. https://doi.org/10.1071/AH22289.
Sullivan, R., Harding, K., Skinner, I., Hemsley, B. (2024). “We don’t look too much into the communication disability”: Clinicians’ views on the falls of hospital patients with communication disability following stroke. Disability and Rehabilitation, 1-11. https://doi.org/10.1080/09638288.2024.2324125
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Rebecca is a Wiradjuri descendent and Certified Practicing Speech Pathologist and has extensive clinical experience working with adults experiencing communication and swallowing difficulties in hospital and community settings. In 2024, Rebecca completed her PhD through the University of Technology, Sydney which examined the falls of hospital patients with communication disability following stroke, using a mixed methods design to explore the impact of communication disability on falls management in rehabilitation. Rebecca is an early career researcher, focusing on improving the care and safety of hospital patients with communication disability.
The information contained in this program is current at of the time of publishing but is subject to changes made without notice.
Disclaimer: © (2024) The Speech Pathology Association of Australia Limited. All rights reserved.
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