Two-Item Fall Screening Tool Identifies Older Adults at Increased Risk of Falling after Emergency Department Visit.

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

Few emergency department (ED)-specific fall-risk screening tools exist. The goals of this study were to externally validate Tiedemann et al's two-item, ED-specific fall screening tool and test handgrip strength to determine their ability to predict future falls. We hypothesized that both the two-item fall screening and handgrip strength would identify older adults at increased risk of falling.

Methods

A convenience sample of patients ages 65 and older presenting to a single-center academic ED were enrolled. Patients were asked screening questions and had their handgrip strength measured during their ED visit. Patients were given one point if they answered "yes" to "Are you taking six or more medications?" and two points for answering "yes" to "Have you had two o

SUBMITTER: Solie CJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7514384 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature