Caregiver demographics, burden, and coping

 Demographic data on caregivers included age, gender, race/ethnicity, education,

and relationship to patient. Caregiver burden was measured using the Sense of

Competence Questionnaire (SCQ). The SCQ contains 27 items with three different

subscales: satisfaction with the care recipient, satisfaction with one's own performance as

a caregiver, and consequences of involvement in care for the personal life of the

caregiver. Each item is scored using a four point Likert type scale; burden is determined

by summing the three scales. Higher scoring indicates higher levels of burden

experienced by the caregiver. The three subscales and the aggregate burden score have all

been demonstrated to be both valid and reliable for use with stroke survivors.

 The Sense of Coherence (SOC) questionnaire is a global measure of the ability to

mobilize adaptive coping resources and is used as a measure of coping ability. The SOC

is a 13-item, self-report scale which has been utilized in over 20 countries [239, 240].

The items on the scale are on a Likert-type scale, and possible scores on the SOC range

from 13-91, with higher scores indicating better ability to cope. This scale has

demonstrated strong internal validity, reliability, and test-retest correlations. Specifically,

Cronbach's alpha (internal consistency) has ranged from 0.74 to 0.91 and the test-retest

correlations for 12-month follow-ups ranged between 0.54 and 0.78.

Analysis of Quantitative Data

 Quantitative data were used to describe the sample and to explore outcome

measures. Descriptive statistics were used to describe participant demographic

characteristics and performance of ADLs and IADLs, depression, and cognition for those

who did and did not discuss fear of falling. A chi-square was completed to examine the

proportions of participants who reported fear of falling at one month and six months post-