FRET: Validity of a Fall Risk Evaluation Tool for Individuals with Acquired Brain Injuries

Objective: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the predictive validity of the Fall Risk Evaluation Tool (FRET) for individuals with acquired brain injuries (ABIs). Methods: Ten participants were included for the study. Inclusion criteria for participants included: age 18 and older, English speaking, 6-months post ABI, ambulatory with or without an assistive device, and uses a wheelchair less than 25% of the day. Exclusion criteria for participants included: global confusion and degenerative neurological conditions. Following the administration of the FRET, participants recorded falls that occurred over the following 3-month study period. Results: Data was analyzed using the Pearson’s r correlation coefficient. No correlation was found between the FRET score and the participants’ reported number of falls during the study period. Correlation between individual subtests within the FRET and actual fall occurrence was also examined. The medication subtest was the only item on the FRET that showed a significant correlation with the participants’ falls. A significant correlation was found between the number of falls during 6-months prior to the study and the fall occurrence during the 3-month study period. Conclusion: There is currently a lack of multi-factorial fall risk assessments specifically designed for individuals with ABIs. The FRET was designed to fill this gap in assessments for individuals with ABIs, although no conclusion can currently be drawn regarding its predictive validity. The study suggests modifications should be made to the FRET to increase the predictive validity the FRET