Abstract
Objective: To conduct a systematic review of published fall risk assessment tools (FRATs) tested for predictive validity among older adults in long-term care (LTC). Methods: A systematic search was conducted using five databases. Only studies reporting on sensitivity and specificity values, conducted in LTC on populations primarily aged over 60 years, were considered. Results: Fifteen papers were included and three different categories of FRATs emerged: multifactorial assessment tools, functional mobility assessments and algorithms. Several FRATs showed moderate-to-good predictive validity and reliability, with the Modified Fall Assessment Tool and the Peninsula Health Falls Risk Assessment Tool (PHFRAT) also demonstrating good feasibility. Conclusion: Evidence for the best choice of FRAT for use in LTC remains limited. Further research is warranted for the PHFRAT, recommended for use in LTC by best practice guidelines, before its establishment as the tool of choice for these clinical settings.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 23-33 |
| Number of pages | 11 |
| Journal | Australasian Journal on Ageing |
| Volume | 37 |
| Issue number | 1 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 2018 |
Keywords
- falls (accidents) in old age
- frail elderly
- long, term care
- older people
- risk assessment