Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 26, 2026
05:26
Using Motion Capture Technology in the Instrumented Timed Up and Go Test to Detect the Risk of Falling in Aged Adults
Published on: October 25, 2024
Validating an evidence-based, self-rated fall risk questionnaire (FRQ) for older adults
Laurence Z Rubenstein1, Rebecca Vivrette, Judith O Harker
1Donald W. Reynolds Department of Geriatric Medicine University of Oklahoma College of Medicine, 921 NE 13th Street, VAMC (11 G), Oklahoma City, OK 73104, USA. Laurence-rubenstein@ouhsc.edu
Journal of Safety Research
|December 14, 2011
Summary
The Fall Risk Questionnaire (FRQ) shows strong agreement with clinical evaluations for assessing fall risk in older adults. Further validation is needed to confirm its predictive strength for future falls.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Public Health
- Clinical Geriatrics
Background:
- Falls are a significant health concern for older adults.
- Current fall risk assessment methods require validation.
- A self-assessment tool could improve public health strategies for fall prevention.
Purpose of the Study:
- To validate the Fall Risk Questionnaire (FRQ) for self-assessment of fall risk in older adults.
- To compare FRQ results with a gold standard clinical evaluation.
- To establish the initial clinical and statistical validity of the FRQ.
Main Methods:
- Recruited 40 adults aged 65+ from a VA medical facility and assisted living facility.
- Participants completed the FRQ and results were compared to a clinical evaluation based on American/British Geriatrics Society guidelines.
- Used an iterative statistical approach, weighing items by relative risk.
Main Results:
- Strong agreement (kappa=.875, p<.0001) was found between the FRQ and clinical evaluation.
- Individual item agreement varied (kappa .305-.832).
- After removing the vision item, the FRQ demonstrated good concurrent validity.
Conclusions:
- The FRQ is evidence-based, clinically acceptable, and initially validated against clinical data.
- The FRQ offers advantages over existing screening tools.
- Further longitudinal studies are required to determine the FRQ's predictive accuracy for future falls.
