title: Longitudinal study of the Home Falls and Accidents Screening Tool in identifying older people at increased risk of falls.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the predictive validity and responsiveness of the Home Falls and Accidents Screening Tool (HOME FAST).
  
  
  METHODS
  A prospective study of 727 community dwelling Veterans and war widows aged 70 years and over. The outcome was 6-month recall of any fall at 3-year follow-up. Baseline measurements were taken of common falls risk factors, and home hazards (using the HOME FAST). Changes in the prevalence of HOME FAST items were calculated and a logistic regression model was computed to determine predictors of falls at follow-up.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Prevalence of 14 HOME FAST items was significantly reduced from baseline to follow-up (P <or= 0.05). Falls were significantly related to the baseline HOME FAST score (odds ratio (OR) 1.016, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.004-1.098, P = 0.006), and a reduction in home hazards at follow-up (OR 0.984, 95% CI 0.973-0.996, P = 0.02).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The HOME FAST can predict falls in older people and is responsive to change.
authors: Discipline of Occupational Therapy, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. l.mackenzie@usyd.edu.au
authors: Lynette
authors: L
authors: Mackenzie
authors: Julie
authors: J
authors: Byles
authors: Catherine
authors: C
authors: D'Este
mesh_terms: D000058:Accidental Falls / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000061:Accidents, Home / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006794:Household Articles; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment / Q000379:methods; D012307:Risk Factors