title: Validation of the Saskatoon Falls Prevention Consortium's Falls Screening and Referral Algorithm.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the concurrent validity of the Saskatoon Falls Prevention Consortium's Falls Screening and Referral Algorithm (FSRA).
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 29 older adults (mean age 77.7 [SD 4.0] y) residing in an independent-living senior's complex who met inclusion criteria completed a demographic questionnaire and the components of the FSRA and Berg Balance Scale (BBS). The FSRA consists of the Elderly Fall Screening Test (EFST) and the Multi-factor Falls Questionnaire (MFQ); it is designed to categorize individuals into low, moderate, or high fall-risk categories to determine appropriate management pathways. A predictive model for probability of fall risk, based on previous research, was used to determine concurrent validity of the FSRI.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The FSRA placed 79% of participants into the low-risk category, whereas the predictive model found the probability of fall risk to range from 0.04 to 0.74, with a mean of 0.35 (SD 0.25). No statistically significant correlation was found between the FSRA and the predictive model for probability of fall risk (Spearman's ρ=0.35, p=0.06).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The FSRA lacks concurrent validity relative to to a previously established model of fall risk and appears to over-categorize individuals into the low-risk group. Further research on the FSRA as an adequate tool to screen community-dwelling older adults for fall risk is recommended.
authors.affiliation: Shuya & Associates Integrative Sports Rehab and Wellness, Regina, Sask.
authors.forename: Sara Nicole
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: Lawson
authors.affiliation: Craven SPORT Services.
authors.forename: Neal
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Zaluski
authors.affiliation: North 49 Balance & Dizziness Centre.
authors.forename: Amanda
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Petrie
authors.affiliation: School of Physical Therapy, University of Saskatchewan.
authors.forename: Cathy
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Arnold
authors.affiliation: Geriatric Evaluation and Management Program, Saskatoon City Hospital, Saskatoon, Sask.
authors.forename: Jenny
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Basran
authors.affiliation: School of Rehabilitation Science, McMaster University, Institute of Applied Health Sciences, Hamilton, Ont.
authors.forename: Vanina
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Dal Bello-Haas
keywords: aged; algorithms; falls, accidental; reproducibility of results; risk assessment