This Article Full Text (PDF) References Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Add to My Marked Citations Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Citing Articles via Scopus Google Scholar Articles by Hellström, K. Articles by Lindmark, B. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Hellström, K. Articles by Lindmark, B. Social Bookmarking                         What's this?

Fear of falling in patients with stroke: a reliability study

Department of Neuroscience/Rehabilitation Medicine, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden

Birgitta Lindmark

Department of Neuroscience, Physiotherapy, University Hospital, Uppsala, Sweden

Objective: To examine the scaling properties and test–retest reliability of an expanded version of the Falls Efficacy Scale (FES) and to compare group differences in the scores. The expanded version focuses on more basic, primary activities of daily living (ADL), which makes the scale more suitable for subjects with moderate to low functional ability, e.g. patients with stroke.

Design: A test–retest reliability study with one group convenience sample.

Setting: Two day-care units: a rehabilitation unit and a geriatric rehabilitation unit.

Subjects: A volunteer sample of 30 patients (mean age 65 years, SD 11 years) who had sustained stroke between 5 and 84 months prior to the investigation.

Main outcome measure: A 13-activity questionnaire (the Swedish modification of the Falls Efficacy Scale (FES(S)) comprising the 10 activities of the original FES and three additional activities was used. Falls efficacy was rated on a 10-point visual analogue scale for each activity on two occasions, 5–22 (mean 10, Md 7) days apart.

Results: The overall test–retest reliability of the FES(S) was high (intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) = 0.97). The ICC for the personal ADL (items 1–6) scores was 0.93 and for the instrumental ADL (items 8–13) 0.97. ICC for the individual items ranged from 0.76 to 0.97.

Conclusions: On the basis of these preliminary findings, the FES(S) appears to have acceptable test–retest reliability. The test may be a reasonable addition for assessing stroke patients with balance disturbances and risk for falls.

Clinical Rehabilitation, Vol. 13, No. 6, 509-517 (1999)
DOI: 10.1191/026921599677784567


CiteULike    Complore    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    Twitter    What's this?

This article has been cited by other articles:

				L. Ziden, K. Frandin, and M. Kreuter Home rehabilitation after hip fracture. A randomized controlled study on balance confidence, physical function and everyday activities Clinical Rehabilitation, December 1, 2008; 22(12): 1019 - 1033. [Abstract] [PDF]

				J. Collicutt McGrath Fear of falling after brain injury Clinical Rehabilitation, July 1, 2008; 22(7): 635 - 645. [Abstract] [PDF]

				M. Y. Pang, J. J Eng, and W. C Miller Determinants of Satisfaction With Community Reintegration in Older Adults With Chronic Stroke: Role of Balance Self-Efficacy Physical Therapy, March 1, 2007; 87(3): 282 - 291. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				K. Legters Fear of Falling Physical Therapy, March 1, 2002; 82(3): 264 - 272. [Full Text] [PDF]

				A H. Ingemarsson, K Frandin, K Hellstrom, and A Rundgren Balance function and fall-related efficacy in patients with newly operated hip fracture Clinical Rehabilitation, May 1, 2000; 14(5): 497 - 505. [Abstract] [PDF]