Instrumentos de avaliação utilizados por terapeutas ocupacionais para avaliar o risco de quedas em pessoas idosas: uma revisão integrativa da literatura.

Abstract

Introduction: Population aging is a reality faced worldwide. The aging process, in interaction with intrinsic and extrinsic factors, may predispose individuals to falls, which currently stand as one of the leading causes of death among older adults. In this context, assessment instruments are an essential part of the healthcare process. The literature indicates that there are two types of assessment tools for fall risk: multidimensional instruments and functional mobility assessments. Objective: To identify the assessment instruments used by occupational therapists over the last 10 years to measure fall risk in older adults. Method: This is an integrative literature review. Seven databases were used (EMBASE, PUBMED, Scopus, SciELO, BVS/LILACS, OTseeker, and PEDro) with search strategies based on the association of the descriptors “occupational therapy,” “falls,” “older adults,” “assessment instruments,” “risk factors,” and “aging,” combined with the Boolean operators “AND” and/or “OR.” Inclusion and exclusion criteria were applied, followed by the screening of studies. Results: Seventeen articles were selected, and 25 different assessment instruments were identified. Of these, seventeen were multidimensional evaluations and eight were functional mobility assessments. Additionally, most studies were conducted in developed countries, and evaluations were carried out mainly in the home environment. Conclusion: The literature highlights the need to assess fall risk in older adults through the combination of two distinct instruments that provide a comprehensive assessment.