Purpose/objectives: To identify whether rates of accidental falls are greater for cancer survivors living in the community during or post-treatment than people with no history of cancer. .
Data sources: In a systematic literature review that was conducted in December 2013, MEDLINE®, EMBASE, PubMed, and Web of Science were searched for cancer or oncology and accidental falls in prospective and retrospective cohort and case-controlled studies. Studies were included if they were conducted in a community-dwelling adult population and excluded if they were conducted in acute hospitals and hospice. .
Data synthesis: Of 484 articles initially identified, 10 were included in the review. Of these, three included a control or comparator group and had comparable outcome measures to include in a meta-analysis. The risk ratio for falls for the group with cancer was 1.11. .
Conclusions: Accidental fall rates in community-dwelling adults with a cancer diagnosis are greater than rates of falls in adults without cancer; this elevated rate remains after acute care is finished. Patients undergoing active treatment have greater rates of falls. Pain, fatigue, and deconditioning may affect fall rates in the longer term. .
Implications for nursing: Nurses have the capacity to reduce risk of falls in community-dwelling cancer survivors during or post-treatment through provision of information, advocacy, and support around pain and fatigue management and promotion of physical activity.
Keywords: adverse events; morbidity; oncology; quality of life; screening.