Accuracy of Falls Screening Tools in Adult Patients With Cancer: A Systematic Review

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Geriatrics
• Rehabilitation Medicine

Background:

• Cancer patients have an elevated risk of falls due to treatment and disease-related factors.
• Accurate screening tools are crucial for identifying and managing falls risk in this population.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify and evaluate the diagnostic accuracy and predictive capacity of falls risk screening tools for cancer patients.
• To provide evidence-based recommendations for falls risk screening in oncology settings.

Main Methods:

• A systematic literature search was conducted in PubMed and CINAHL.
• Two independent reviewers screened citations, and data extraction was performed and verified by two reviewers.
• Screening measures were assessed for clinical utility, validity, diagnostic accuracy, and predictive capacity.

Main Results:

• Of 532 articles, 24 were included, identifying 55 screening measure variations.
• A history of falls showed high diagnostic accuracy for immediate risk (specificity 98.9%).
• Fear of falling effectively ruled out immediate risk (negative predictive value 87.0%), while the Timed Up and Go (TUG) Standard demonstrated strong predictive capacity.

Conclusions:

• A combination of falls history, fear of falling, and the TUG Standard is recommended for comprehensive falls risk screening in cancer patients.
• The choice of screening tool should consider whether assessing immediate or future falls risk and the specific clinical setting.