Which outcome measure is most appropriate for a falls prevention programme?

The efficacy of physiotherapeutic treatment is best assessed, and thus justified, by the use of an appropriate outcome measure. The Irish Health Service Executive (HSE) in its 2004 Standard recommended that the clinician is obliged to; “Take account of the patient’s problems, and where possible (use) a published, standardised, valid, reliable and responsive outcome measure to evaluate the change in the patient’s health status”.1 Regarding mobility, balance and falls risk in an elderly population, a number of such tools exist.