Expert Perspectives on Falls Risk: A Qualitative Study to Inform a Standardized and Proactive Screening Tool for Older Adults

Aims This study aimed to gain perspectives of clinicians and academics from multiple disciplines in Ireland and internationally on multifactorial falls risks, attitudes towards falls prevention, the existence of standardization, and opinion on the ideal screening tool. Methods Braun and Clarke’s (2006) thematic analysis was conducted on 15 expert interview transcripts from 10 disciplines. Results The following themes emerged: falls risk factors, proactive versus reactive culture, standardization, and logistics of the ideal tool. Discussion This study found a need for a nationally standardized, multidisciplinary falls screening tool for community-dwelling older adults which would proactively identify and stratify risk and streamline toward appropriate interventions to improve Irish primary falls prevention. Implications include potentially decreasing fall-related admissions, alleviating healthcare burden, as per Irish and international policies that aim to proactively recognize risk for the prevention of common causes of harm.