Oral Presentation Australian and New Zealand Stroke Organisation Conference 2026

The clinical and cost effectiveness of the Stroke Action Falls rehabilitation program compared to usual care alone for Falls In Stroke Survivors: the FISS-Australia trial protocol   (139661)

Emmah Doig 1 2 , Pip Logan 1 3 , Ramya Movva 1 2 , Mark Chatfield 4 , Aparna Arjunan 1 5 , Tracy Comans 6 , Ramesh Durairaj 7 , Rohan Grimley 8 , Hannah Gullo 2 9 , Katherine Harding 10 11 , Annie Hill 2 10 12 , Stephen Isbel 13 , Jacki Liddle 2 14 , Niruthikha Mahendran 1 2 , Jennifer Muller 1 , Charles Okafor 6 , Cathie Sherrington 15 , Nadine E Foster 1 2 4
  1. Surgical Treatment and Rehabilitation Service (STARS) Education and Research Alliance, The University of Queensland and Metro N, Br, QUEENSLAND, Australia
  2. School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
  3. The University of Nottingham, Nottingham, United Kingdom
  4. The University of Queensland Clinical Trial Centre, The University of Queensland and Metro N, Brisbane, QUEENSLAND, Australia
  5. Surgical Treatment and Rehabilitation Service (STARS), Metro North Health, Brisbane, QUEENSLAND, Australia
  6. School of Public Health, Faculty of Health, Medicine and Behavioural Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QUEENSLAND, Australia
  7. Cairns Hospital, Cairns and Hinterland Hospital and Health Service, Cairns, QUEENSLAND, Australia
  8. Sunshine Coast University Hospital , Sunshine Coast Health, Sunshine Coast, QUEENSLAND, Australia
  9. Occupational Therapy Department, The Prince Charles Hospital, Metro North Health, Brisbane, QUEENSLAND, Australia
  10. School of Allied Health, Human Services and Sport, Latrobe University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
  11. Eastern Health, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
  12. Centre of Research Excellence in Aphasia Recovery and Rehabilitation, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
  13. Faculty of Health, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QUEENSLAND, Australia
  14. Princess Alexandra Hospital, Metro South Health, Brisbane, QUEENSLAND, Australia
  15. School of Public Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

Background

Falls are a leading cause of secondary complications after stroke.  Action Falls is a falls prevention program shown to reduce falls rates in UK care homes. Action Falls has recently been adapted for people with stroke. The Falls in Stroke Survivors (FISS) randomised controlled trial will compare whether adding ‘Stroke Action Falls’ to usual care reduces fall rates among adults living at home (first 12 months post-stroke), and is more cost-effective, versus usual care alone.

 

Method

Consumers (stroke lived-experience), family members and multidisciplinary clinicians have adapted Action Falls. The co-development and piloting process drew on principles of human-centred design and communication accessibility. This NHMRC funded trial (ACTRN12625001121459) aims to recruit 464 participants (post-stroke). Primary outcome is annual falls rate over a 12-month period; secondary outcomes are number of falls, injuries due to falls, fear of falling, activities of daily living, psychological stress, quality of life and resource use.

 

Results

Stroke Action Falls is a brief, low-cost, self-management program for delivery in-home or via telerehabilitation to reduce avoidable falls. An individualised Stroke Action Falls plan is developed collaboratively with the participant, significant others and a trained health professional. The program has been successfully piloted with stroke patients including people with aphasia and family members. Trial recruitment opens in 2026, with 10 hospitals across three Australian states inviting participants to be involved early after hospital discharge.   

 

Conclusion

The FISS-Australia trial will contribute to providing evidence to inform falls prevention in people in the first year after stroke.