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Physical performance evaluation of older cancer patients: a preliminary study
Janine A Overcash1, Henry R Rivera
1College of Nursing, University of South Florida, 12901 Bruce B. Downs Blvd., MDC 22, Tampa, FL 33612-4766, United States. jovercas@hsc.usf.edu <jovercas@hsc.usf.edu>
Unlabelled:
Performance status measures can provide clinical incite into understanding patients who are at risk for falls.
Purpose:
This preliminary, prospective study is to determine the sensitivity and specificity of the Timed Up & Go instrument and the Simmonds Performance Test Battery in older cancer patients with falls as the outcome measure.
Methods:
The Timed Up & Go instrument, fall assessment and the Simmonds Performance Test Battery were administered.
Results:
Age range was 68-83 years. Participants (n=20) who reported Falls Within a Year were 65% (n=13), 79% (n=15) reported Falls Within Three Months, and 60% (n=12) reported Falls Since Cancer Diagnosis. The questions of Falls Within One Year and Falls Within Three Months had equal area under the curve at .85.
Conclusion:
The sensitivity and specificity of the fall assessment questions of Falls Within One Year and Falls Within Three Months were found to be equal when using the Timed Up & Go as an outcome measure. The Timed Up & Go instrument was found to have more robust sensitivity and specificity levels as compared to the Simmonds performance status battery.
