title: Evaluation of fall risk assessment tools for psychiatric patient fall prevention: a comparative study.
abstract: The Hendrich II Fall Risk Model™ (Hendrich II) is used to determine patient fall risks. However, the WilsonSims Fall Risk Assessment Tool (WSFRAT) is more specific to psychiatric patients. The current study tested the Hendrich II and WSFRAT simultaneously to determine which tool was the most predictive for patient falls in a psychiatric population. Fall risk assessments using the Hendrich II and WSFRAT tools were completed through discharge. Fall risk assessment scores, medications, and falls data were documented. Fifty patients who met eligibility criteria generated 319 observations; of the 50 patients, two (4%) experienced falls. Sensitivity was 100% for the Hendrich II and WSFRAT, with all patients properly categorized as high risk for falling. Both assessments had similar specificity (Hendrich II = 67.8%; WSFRAT = 63.1%). Both tools have similar specificity; thus, additional research is warranted.
authors.forename: Debra
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Van Dyke
authors.forename: Bruce
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Singley
authors.forename: Karen Gabel
authors.initials: KG
authors.lastname: Speroni
authors.forename: Marlon G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Daniel
mesh_terms: D000058:Accidental Falls / Q000517:prevention & control*; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007297:Inpatients / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000451:nursing*; D009730:Nursing Assessment / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011568:Psychiatric Nursing / Q000379:methods*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D018570:Risk Assessment / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012308:Risk Management / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires