Abstract

This chapter provides a context in which the specific tools described in subsequent chapters can be considered. There are six important considerations applicable to risk assessment tools that are addressed in the first section: context, purpose, population, parameters, approach, and applicability. Subsequent sections of the chapter focus on approaches to risk assessment, the major features of each approach, the strengths and weaknesses of each approach, and their respective states of validation. This chapter does not provide an in-depth review of the validation data relevant to specific tools. That is addressed in the subsequent chapters describing the various risk assessment tools.