Validation and cross‐cultural adaptation of the Falls Efficacy Scale in patients with Parkinson's disease in S erbia

Aim The aim of the present study was to assess the validity and reliability of the F alls E fficacy S cale ( FES ) in Parkinson's disease ( PD) patients in S erbia. Methods A cross‐sectional study was carried out at the C linic for N eurology, between J une 2011 and J une 2012. A total of 201 consecutive PD outpatients were recruited. The inclusion criteria were: ability to walk independently for at least 10 m, ability to stand for at least 90 s and a M ini‐ M ental S tate E xamination score >24. The exclusion criteria were: the presence of other major neurological, psychiatric, visual, audio‐vestibular and orthopedic disturbances. The 10‐item FES was translated according to internationally‐accepted methodology. The internal reliability of the S erbian version of the FES was evaluated using C ronbach's alpha coefficient. Reproducibility of the FES was evaluated using the S pearman– B rown coefficient. To evaluate construct validity, an exploratory factor analysis (principal component analysis, varimax rotation) was carried out. Results The internal consistency of the S erbian version of the FES was 0.98. Age, duration of disease, H oehn and Y ahr stage, Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale motor score, history of falls, and the H amilton depression and anxiety scores were significantly correlated with the total FES score. On factor analysis, all 10 items were compact in a one‐factor cluster, with an explained variance of 85%. Spearman–Brown's correlation coefficient between the total scores was 0.99. Conclusions The psychometric characteristics of the S erbian version of the FES have excellent reliability and validity as an instrument for measuring the fear of falling in PD patients. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2013; 13: 936–941.