Department of Speech Pathology and Audiology, School of Human and Community Development, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa.
Centre for Augmentative and Alternative Communication, Faculty of Humanities, University of Pretoria, South Africa.
Am J Audiol. 2022 Mar 3;31(1):243-260. doi: 10.1044/2021_AJA-21-00148. Epub 2022 Feb 11.
This systematic review aimed to explore the recommended fall risk assessment practices in audiology, identify audiologists' reported practices in fall risk assessment, and recognize the barriers and facilitators affecting fall risk assessment in clinical practice.
This systematic review was conducted using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses.
CINAHL, PubMed, and gray literature yielded 262 articles. A total of 27 full-text articles were included in this review article. An additional 16 scope of practice and guideline documents were also reviewed. Pertinent data and findings from the review were tabulated and analyzed using a qualitative, inductive approach.
Results revealed that despite fall risk assessment measures and protocols being mentioned, discussed, and reportedly implemented clinically in audiology literature, many audiologists are not conducting fall risk assessments clinically. The main challenges presented appear to be due to limited guidance within audiology documentation and inadequate training and knowledge of audiologists on fall risk factors and measures. This review article highlighted that all audiologists have an important role to play in reducing the global crisis of falls in older adults. However, without further research to aid in the development of standardization of documentation and training programs, we may continue to see a lack of awareness and education on fall risk and on the audiologist's role in the screening and early detection hereof.
本系统评价旨在探讨听力学中推荐的跌倒风险评估实践，确定听力学从业者在跌倒风险评估中的报告实践，并认识到影响临床实践中跌倒风险评估的障碍和促进因素。
本系统评价按照系统评价和荟萃分析的首选报告项目进行。
CINAHL、PubMed 和灰色文献共产生了 262 篇文章。共有 27 篇全文文章被纳入本综述。还审查了另外 16 项实践范围和指南文件。使用定性、归纳方法对综述中的相关数据和发现进行了制表和分析。
结果表明，尽管跌倒风险评估措施和方案在听力学文献中被提及、讨论和临床报告实施，但许多听力学从业者并未在临床实践中进行跌倒风险评估。主要挑战似乎是由于听力学文件中的指导有限，以及听力学从业者对跌倒风险因素和措施的培训和知识不足。本文强调，所有听力学从业者在减少全球老年人跌倒危机方面都发挥着重要作用。然而，如果没有进一步的研究来帮助制定文件和培训计划的标准化，我们可能会继续看到对跌倒风险以及听力学从业者在筛查和早期检测中的作用缺乏认识和教育。
