Abstract
Background & Objectives: Occurrence of falls in older adults contributes to increased morbidity and mortality, exponential healthcare costs, and reduced quality of life. Utilization of outcome measures for screening and assessing fall risk in older patients contributes to reduced fall-related injuries, deaths, and healthcare costs, while promoting improved mobility and health status. The purpose of this study was to explore the utilization of outcome measures assessing balance and fall risk in patients 65 years and up within the outpatient physical therapy setting. Secondary aims included determining the most frequently used outcome measures as well as examining any associations between demographic variables and clinicians’ screening habits.
Highlights
The rising occurrence of falls in older adults is a major public health concern due to its impact on health outcomes, quality of life, and treatment costs.[1,2,3,4,5] Proper screening and assessment by physical therapy practitioners with the implementation of appropriate outcome measures to identify at-risk patients can greatly reduce the occurrence of falls in older adults
Clinical Relevance: Results may assist practicing physical therapists (PTs) and patients contributes to reduced fall-related therapist assistants (PTAs) with recognizing that it is essential that utilization of balance and fall risk outcome measures are incorporated into clinicians’ practice to improve the standard of care when treating adults 65 years and older
This study may guide PTs and PTAs with the selection of continuing education that addresses the appropriate outcome measures that are recommended for evidenced-based practice
Summary
The rising occurrence of falls in older adults is a major public health concern due to its impact on health outcomes, quality of life, and treatment costs.[1,2,3,4,5] Proper screening and assessment by physical therapy practitioners with the implementation of appropriate outcome measures to identify at-risk patients can greatly reduce the occurrence of falls in older adults. This study was designed to explore physical therapists’ and physical therapist assistants’ utilization of evidence-based outcome measures to screen and assess for balance and fall risk in adults 65 years and up. Process, which include the implementation of outcome measures targeted for balance and fall risk.[4,10,14,15,16,17]. A significant number of fall risk assessment tools have been identified as having good reliability and good validity for identifying fall potential with communitydwelling older adults. Park (2018) performed a systemic review and meta-analysis on diagnostic studies through June 2016 to assess which of these tools best predict the risk of falls in the elderly. It was concluded that for assessing the risk of falls among community-dwelling older adults, the Timed Up and Go
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