Open AccessEstablishment of predictive validity and reliability of a newly developed fear of falling scale in Hong Kong
Author(s) -
Sheung Lin Kuo,
Jennifer C. Nitz
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
hong kong physiotherapy journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.343
H-Index - 15
eISSN - 1876-441X
pISSN - 1013-7025
DOI - 10.1016/j.hkpj.2011.03.003
Subject(s) - predictive validity , test (biology) , inter rater reliability , reliability (semiconductor) , intraclass correlation , cronbach's alpha , fear of falling , balance (ability) , falling (accident) , medicine , psychology , rating scale , physical therapy , psychometrics , poison control , clinical psychology , injury prevention , developmental psychology , psychiatry , medical emergency , paleontology , power (physics) , physics , quantum mechanics , biology
Fall events and fear of falling increase with age in healthy and frail older people. Fear of falling has been identified as a significant falls risk factor. The aims of this study were to establish the interrater and test-retest reliability and predictive validity of the fear of falling scale (FOFS). Sixty-nine subjects, 55 female and 14 male subjects, aged 65–97 years were included. Subjects were asked to respond to the FOFS on three occasions to test interrater and test-retest reliability. In the absence of a suitable comparative test for concurrent validity, balance predictive formulae were developed and relationship to Functional Reach Test, Timed up & go, and Step Test performance were compared. Intraclass coefficient (2,1) of interrater and test-retest reliability was 0.96 and 0.94, respectively. The Cronbach α for the FOFS scores collected ranged from 0.94 to 0.97. From the results of the multiple regression analyses, prediction formulae for Functional Reach Test, Timed up & go test, and Step Test from the FOFS scores were generated. These formulae then predicted balance performance by the subjects. The interrater and test-retest reliability and the predictive validity of the FOFS were established