Study designs of evaluations included in the review
Prospective studies were included.
Specific interventions included in the review
Functional (or performance-oriented) mobility tests that can be used in nursing homes, so called bedside tests that can be conducted without the use of advanced technical aids. Most studies used (variations of) of the performance-oriented mobility assessment (POMA). Other tests included the Berg balance test, the functional and lateral reach test, the step up test, the timed up and go test from Mathias, mobility tasks, timed chair stands, 10-foot walk, stops walking when talking test, one leg balance test, or walking speed. Studies that were not performance-oriented, or that comprised neurological or orthopaedic research, were excluded.
Reference standard test against which the new test was compared
Studies had to use the risk of falling as the reference standard. One study used the risk of hip fracture.
Participants included in the review
Elderly (65 years and older) patients were included; the average age ranged from 73 to 83 years. In nine studies the respondents were living at home, in three studies the respondents were living in sheltered housing or in a nursing home, and in one study the respondents were living in a convalescent home.
Outcomes assessed in the review
The sensitivity and specificity of the tests were assessed.
How were decisions on the relevance of primary studies made?
The authors do not state how the papers were selected for the review, or how many of the reviewers performed the selection.