Citation

Kim SC, Berry B, Young L. Geriatr. Nurs. 2019; 40(3): 284-289.

Affiliation

Extendicare Inc., Unit 227, 333 Aspen Glen Landing SW, Calgary, Alberta T3H 0N6. Canada. Electronic address: lyoung@extendicare.com.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2019, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.gerinurse.2018.11.006

PMID

30545569

Abstract

This prospective cohort study was conducted to validate the usefulness of the Aggressive Behaviour Risk Assessment Tool for Long-Term Care (ABRAT-L) in predicting aggressive events. A total of 615 newly admitted residents at 22 long-term care homes in Canada were included. The risk of aggression was assessed using the six-item ABRAT-L within 24 hours of admission, and incident reports of aggressive events occurring within 30 days of admission were collected. Forty-seven residents out of 615 had one or more aggressive events (7.6%). The receiver operating characteristics analysis of ABRAT-L showed a good discriminant ability at the previously recommended cut-off score of 4, with satisfactory sensitivity and specificity. The usefulness of ABRAT-L in identifying potentially aggressive residents at the time of admission was confirmed. This validation study supports the adoption of a proactive risk assessment tool, ABRAT-L, as a part of routine admission assessments at long-term care homes.

Copyright © 2018. Published by Elsevier Inc.

Language: en

Keywords

Aggression; Long-term care; Risk assessment; Sensitivity; Specificity