| Popis: |
The ageing population poses a growing problem to global healthcare systems; by 2050 the proportion of older adults within the population will almost double (WHO, 2021). Approximately a third of community dwelling adults over the age of 65 fall each year (Rubenstein, 2006; Tinetti & Williams, 1998) with around half experiencing more than one fall per year (Hawk et al., 2006). One of the principal methods of identifying those at risk of falling is to identify if a person has a fear of falling (FoF). Multiple questionnaires and surveys have been developed to assess FoF. One of the most effective measures of falls efficacy is Tinetti’s Falls Efficacy Scale (FES) (Tinetti et al., 1990), which utilised a ten question survey structured around how confident subjects were completing certain activities (e.g. taking a bath or shower, walking around the house, answering the door or telephone). This original questionnaire has been modified for different populations of older adults, including the Falls Efficacy Scale International version (FES-I which was developed in 2005 (Yardley et al., 2005), and is commonly used in clinical and research arenas. The FES variations are typically used to assess FoF in those with neurological disorders (e.g. Stroke and Parkinson’s disease), but also used more widely in falls assessment of the general population, aiming to identify those with a FoF (likely having had a recent fall) and provide them with an intervention strategy. This scoping review aims to summarise the previous uses of any iteration of the FES as a screening tool for falls, investigating both retrospective and prospective uses of the questionnaires as screening tools. |
