Article

The HOME FAST was developed and trialled in Australia as a screening
tool designed to be used by any health professional to identify older people at
increased risk of falls and to facilitate referral for more detailed assessment
and intervention. This study aimed to evaluate the clinical utility of the HOME FAST from the perspective of users.
METHOD: A mixed-methods approach using survey
data (n = 32), focus group data (n = 46) and interview data
(n = 5) from
occupational therapists, physiotherapists, community nurses and other health
professionals working in hospitals, community services and private practice,
located in the UK, Canada and Australia. Data were integrated using a matrix of
quantitative and qualitative data that aligned the findings with established
theoretical constructs of clinical utility. RESULTS: Findings across the data
sources provide evidence of the clinical utility of the HOME FAST, and these
findings align with theoretical constructs about how a tool such as the HOME FAST
is adopted in practice. CONCLUSION: The HOME FAST can be used in a variety of
international setting in developed countries and by different health
professionals as a screening tool. A manual would assist in the consistent
application of the HOME FAST. Implications for Rehabilitation Hazards in the home
environment are a key contributor to falls risk for older people The Home Falls
and Accidents Screening Tool (HOME FAST) was designed for any health professional
to screen older people at increased risk of falling because of home hazards. Even
with psychometric evidence of the reliability and validity of a tool, it is
critical that the tool can be easily adopted by clinicians (clinical utility),
otherwise its applicability to practice and research is limited. An international
mixed-method study has provided evidence of the clinical utility of the HOME FAST.

Langue : ANGLAIS