BACKGROUND: To ensure successful integration and implementation of evidence into practice, validation of measures and interventions should be performed in the population and setting in which they will be used.
PURPOSE: This article provides a method for evaluating the predictive performance of a risk tool using the Hester Davis fall risk tool as an example.
METHODS: A retrospective matched-pairs sample of fallers and nonfallers was created. Psychometric properties were calculated using 2 × 2 contingency tables and compared to data in the original report.
RESULTS: In this study sample, the risk tool showed minimal ability to distinguish patients at risk for falling from those not at risk.
CONCLUSIONS: Organizations are urged to assess the performance of risk tools in their own patient population. This article provides a practical approach for the validation of evidence into the practice setting.