Cross-Cultural Adaptation, Validity and Reliability of the Arabic Version of the Falls Efficacy Scale-International (FES-I)
Date
2015-10-20
Authors
Hadeel Halaweh
Ulla Svantesson
Susanne Rosberg
Carin Willen
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Abstract
Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the validity
and reliability of an Arabic language version (Ar) of the Falls
Efficacy Scale-International (FES-I) with respect to its use
with Arabic-speaking elderly subjects.
Subjects and Methods: For cross-cultural adaptation, the translation of the
original English version of the scale was conducted based
on the protocol of the Prevention of Falls Network Europe
(ProFaNE). The FES-I (Ar) was administered via face-to-face
interviews with 108 community-dwelling elderly Palestinians
(61 women and 47 men, aged 60–84 years).
Statistical analyses were used to determine group differences with respect
to age, gender, and fall history. To assess validity, Spear man’s rank correlation coefficient was used to examine the
correlation between the total scores of FES-I (Ar) and the
Timed Up and Go (TUG) test, gait speed, and balance. Test-retest reliability between the two test occasions was assessed in accordance with Svensson’s method. Results: The
FES-I (Ar) total scores were positively correlated with TUG
(r s = 0.641, p < 0.001) and negatively correlated with gait speed (r s = –0.670, p < 0.001) and balance (r s = –0.592, p <
0.001). All items of the FES-I (Ar) indicated a high percentage agreement (from 88 to 93%), and the relative position ranged from 0.01 to 0.06. Conclusion: In this study, the
FES-I (Ar) was shown to be a comprehensible, valid and reliable measure of the concern about falling among community-dwelling elderly subjects. In clinical practice and future
research, the FES-I (Ar) instrument could be used to effectively assess concern about falling in Arabic-speaking elderly persons.
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Citation
Halaweh H, Svantesson U, Rosberg S, Willen C., (2016). Cross-Cultural Adaptation,Validity and Reliability of the Arabic Version of the Falls Efficacy Scale International (FES-I). Medical Principles and Practice. 2016; 25(1):1-7.