Evaluation of the STRATIFY falls prediction tool on a geriatric unit.

Abstract

Accurate prediction of fall-prone hospitalized older adults may be integral to reducing falls. The STRATIFY, a simple 5-point falls prediction tool, was prospectively validated on a Geriatric Assessment and Rehabilitation Unit as a one-time initial predictor of patients likely to fall. Sensitivity and specificity were lower than in the original British study. Introducing risk assessments validated elsewhere on a patient care unit or on a hospital-wide scale requires caution.