Evaluation of a novel photography-based home assessment protocol for identification of environmental risk factors for falls in elderly persons

Daniel, Heike; Oesch, Peter; Stuck, Andreas; Born, Stephan; Bachmann, Stefan; Schoenenberger, Andreas (2013). Evaluation of a novel photography-based home assessment protocol for identification of environmental risk factors for falls in elderly persons. Swiss medical weekly, 143, w13884. EMH Schweizerischer Ärzteverlag 10.4414/smw.2013.13884

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PRINCIPLES

To evaluate the validity and feasibility of a novel photography-based home assessment (PhoHA) protocol, as a possible substitute for on-site home assessment (OsHA).

METHODS

A total of 20 patients aged ≥65 years who were hospitalised in a rehabilitation centre for musculoskeletal disorders affecting mobility participated in this prospective validation study. For PhoHA, occupational therapists rated photographs and measurements of patients' homes provided by patients' confidants. For OsHA, occupational therapists conducted a conventional home visit.

RESULTS

Information obtained by PhoHA was 79.1% complete (1,120 environmental factors identified by PhoHA vs 1416 by OsHA). Of the 1,120 factors, 749 had dichotomous (potential hazards) and 371 continuous scores (measurements with tape measure). Validity of PhoHA to potential hazards was good (sensitivity 78.9%, specificity 84.9%), except for two subdomains (pathways, slippery surfaces). Pearson's correlation coefficient for the validity of measurements was 0.87 (95% confidence interval [CI 0.80-0.92, p <0.001). Agreement between methods was 0.52 (95%CI 0.34-0.67, p <0.001, Cohen's kappa coefficient) for dichotomous and 0.86 (95%CI 0.79-0.91, p <0.001, intraclass correlation coefficient) for continuous scores. Costs of PhoHA were 53.0% lower than those of OsHA (p <0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

PhoHA has good concurrent validity for environmental assessment if instructions for confidants are improved. PhoHA is potentially a cost-effective method for environmental assessment.

Item Type:

Journal Article (Original Article)

Division/Institute:

04 Faculty of Medicine > Department of General Internal Medicine (DAIM) > Geriatric Clinic > Geriatric Clinic Inselspital
04 Faculty of Medicine > Department of General Internal Medicine (DAIM) > Geriatric Clinic

UniBE Contributor:

Stuck, Andreas, Born, Stephan, Bachmann, Stefan, Schoenenberger, Andreas

Subjects:

600 Technology > 610 Medicine & health

ISSN:

1424-7860

Publisher:

EMH Schweizerischer Ärzteverlag

Language:

English

Submitter:

Rebecca Rufer

Date Deposited:

12 Jun 2014 13:17

Last Modified:

05 Dec 2022 14:30

Publisher DOI:

10.4414/smw.2013.13884

PubMed ID:

24222638

BORIS DOI:

10.7892/boris.45829

URI:

https://boris.unibe.ch/id/eprint/45829

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