New Study in Journal of Nursing Management Finds HRST Strong Predictor of Mortality among People with I/DD

by Craig Escudé, HRS, Inc.

In this time of COVID-19, the Health Risk Screening Tool (HRST) used for identifying health risks among people with I/DD, has been validated in a recent study published in the Journal of Nursing Measurement.

The newly published article highlights the efficacy of the HRST to predict mortality in a study of 12,582 people with I/DD residing in the state of Georgia. The authors conclude that the study results showed that “the HRST’s Health Care Levels are predictive of mortality. Therefore, it can serve as a basis for establishing health care needs and determining nursing care acuity for people with I/DD.”

Here’s more from the study:

“All three methods of analysis employed in our study (Kaplan–Meier, Cox regression, and binary logistic regression) indicate that the six-point health risk score (i.e., Healthcare Level) produced by the HRST was prognostic of mortality in a sample of persons with intellectual disability. That is, the instrument is able to identify the degree of vulnerability in such a population. Merrick and Morad (2011) recommend that an HRA (Health Risk Assessment) become a standard component of the life plan of a person with an intellectual disability because it would allow for the detection of conditions that could compromise longevity, and our results suggest that the HRST can meet this need.”

The time-tested HRST is currently used in 26 states and determines the mortality risk level of people with I/DD to ensure that the support staff for these individuals know precisely when and how to act. The efficacy confirmation from the peer reviewed Journal of Nursing Measurement shines an important light on the growing use of the HRST. As the leading nursing journal, Journal of Nursing Measurement focuses on addressing instrumentation, tools, and approaches in regard to nursing, research practice, and education.

Here is a link to the full article.

The rampant spread of COVID-19 shows that calculating risk factors for vulnerable populations is a matter of life and death. The HRST can help you identify who is at most risk for serious consequences from an infection like COVID-19.

If you are already using the HRST, know that you are using a validated and reliable tool. If you are not, contact HRS to learn more.