Validity of the German version of the Stay Independent Questionnaire applied by telephone interview: A diagnostic accuracy study

The German version of the Stay Independent Questionnaire is capable of identifying community-dwelling seniors aged 70 and older without impairment in standing and walking balance. The high sensitivity of the test allows excluding test-negative individuals from further investigation. A limitation of the questionnaire is the high proportion of false positives, resulting from the low specificity of the test. Scientific evaluation will show to what extent the use of the questionnaire may improve the identification and medical care of community-dwelling seniors at risk of falling in terms of fall prevention.