[Critical appraisal of a screening instrument to predict the risk of falls in the elderly].
The present article describes the critical appraisal of diagnostic and screening tests. A geriatric scenario on fall prevention is used as an example. A study on the Tinetti balance scale is critically appraised. It is demonstrated that the instrument adds marginal information. The benefit for the target population remains questionable.
Meyer
Gabriele
G
Universität Hamburg, FB 13, IGTW-Gesundheit, Hamburg. GMeyer@uni-hamburg.de
D000058:Accidental Falls / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000368:Aged; D006801:Humans; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012307:Risk Factors