Article

PURPOSE: To assess the measurement properties of the Falls Efficacy
Scale-International (FES-I) in patients after a hip fracture aged >/= 65 years.
METHODS: In a sample of 100 patients, we examined the structural validity,
internal consistency and construct validity. For the structural validity a
confirmatory factor analysis was carried out. For construct validity
predetermined hypotheses were tested. In a second sample of 21 older patients the
inter-rater reliability was evaluated. RESULTS:
The factor analysis yielded
strong evidence that the FES-I is uni-dimensional in patients with a hip
fracture; the Cronbach's alpha was 0.94. When testing the reliability, the
intra-class correlation coefficient was 0.72, while the Standard Error of
Measurement was 6.4 and the Smallest Detectable Change was 17.7 (on a scale from
16 to 64). The Spearman correlation of the FES-I with the one-item fear of
falling instrument was high (r = 0.68). The correlation was moderate with
instruments measuring functional performance constructs and low with instruments
measuring psychological constructs. CONCLUSIONS: Reliability and structural
validity of the FES-I in patients after a hip fracture are good. The construct
validity appears more closely related to functional performance constructs than
to psychological constructs, suggesting that the concept measured by the FES-I
may not capture all aspects of fear of falling. IMPLICATIONS FOR REHABILITATION:
The Falls Efficacy Scale-International (FES-I), which is commonly used to measure
fear of falling in community-dwelling older persons, can also be used to assess
fear of falling in patients after a hip fracture. The reliability and the
structural validity of the FES-I for these hip patients are good, whereas the
construct validity of the FES-I is not optimal. The FES-I may not capture all
aspects of fear of falling and may be more closely related to functional
performance than to psychological concepts such as anxiety.

Langue : ANGLAIS