Fall risk assessment tools for use among older adults in long-term care settings: A systematic review of the literature

Christine Brown Wilson, Susan Nunan, Timothy Henwood, Deborah Parker

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

39 Citations (Scopus)

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 languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)23-33
JournalAustralasian Journal on Ageing
Volume37
Issue number1
Early online date23 Nov 2017
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Mar 2018

Keywords

  • Falls risk
  • Older people
  • Care homes

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