Date of Award
2020
Document Type
Master Thesis
Degree Name
Masters of Science (Research)
Department
Nursing & Healthcare Sciences
First Advisor
Dr. Catrina Heffernan
Second Advisor
Dr Elizabeth Anne Heffernan
Abstract
Background: The operational effectiveness of Fall Risk Assessment Tools (FRATs)in predicting falls remains unclear due to variation in accuracy when applied in different settings and among different populations (Aranda-Gallardo et al. 2017, Castellini at al. 2017).
Aims: The primary aim of the study is to determine the predictive accuracy of the Falls Risk Assessment Scale for the Elderly (FRASE) risk assessment tool in identifying older adults at high risk of falls in Community Hospitals/ Nursing Units. The secondary aim is to determine the relationship between older adult faller status and the risk factors; gender, age, gait, sensory deficit, falls history, medication, medical history, and mobility as identified in the FRASE risk assessment tool.
Design: A quantitative non-experimental correlational research design. Settings: Convenience sample of 12 Community Hospitals/ Nursing Units.
Method: Collection of 300 Data Collection Tools comprising of FRASE risk assessment data and a falls incident category data.
Results: The FRASE had a sensitivity of 74.0% (95% CI: 64.3% to 82.3%) and a specificity of 66.0% (95% CI: 59.0% to 72.5%). The AUC was 0.698 (95% CI: 0.641, 0.748) demonstrating predictive accuracy. The risk factors gender (p=0.037), gait (p<0.001), sensory deficit (p=0.001) falls history (p<0.001), medical history (p=0.005) and mobility (p=0.049) were significantly associated with faller status. Age presented no statistically significant relationship with faller status (p=0.434). Medication failed to reach a statistically significant relationship (p=0.81) with faller status.
Conclusion: The FRASE showed predictive accuracy in identifying older adults at high risk of falls in Community Hospitals/ Nursing Units. Age is not a predictor of falls among older adults. A previous history of a fall and unsteady gait are the greatest predictors of a future fall among older adults. The findings in this study recommend clinicians within Long-term care settings review current fall practices and apply increased emphasis on the fall risk variables that established predictive accuracy among older adults aged 65 years and older.
Recommended Citation
Daly, Susan, "To determine the predictive accuracy of the FRASE risk assessment tool in identifying older adults at high risk of falls in Community Hospitals/ Nursing Units" (2020). Theses [online].
Available at: https://sword.cit.ie/allthe/787
Access Level
info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess