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Simple screening test for risk of falls in the elderly
Author(s) -
Okochi Jiro,
Toba Kenji,
Takahashi Tai,
Matsubayashi Kozo,
Nishinaga Masanori,
Takahashi Ryutaro,
Ohrui Takashi
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
geriatrics and gerontology international
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.823
H-Index - 57
eISSN - 1447-0594
pISSN - 1444-1586
DOI - 10.1111/j.1447-0594.2006.00352.x
Subject(s) - medicine , test (biology) , logistic regression , gerontology , cognition , construct validity , scale (ratio) , occupational safety and health , clinical psychology , physical therapy , psychiatry , psychometrics , paleontology , physics , quantum mechanics , biology , pathology
Background: The aim of this study is to construct a simple screening test for the risk of falls in community‐dwelling elder persons. Methods: A total of 1378 community‐dwelling people aged 65 years and older in five different communities in Japan were asked to answer a self rated questionnaire including 22 items covering physical, cognitive, emotional and social aspects of functioning and environmental factors. At a six‐month follow‐up, the outcome of fall occurrence and the number of falls was ascertained by social workers, health visitors or nurses. Results: Five out of 22 items were selected using a logistic regression model. Using this five‐item version, a screening test was constructed, and at the best cut‐off point, the sensitivity and specificity were 68% and 70%, respectively. The validity of this scale was tested on persons with cognitive dysfunction. Conclusion: The simplicity and the predictive validity of the screening test support the use of this test in health check ups or general outpatient facilities.