1. Validation of the Italian version of the falls efficacy scale international (FES-I) and the short FES-I in community-dwelling older persons.
- Author
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Ruggiero C, Mariani T, Gugliotta R, Gasperini B, Patacchini F, Nguyen HN, Zampi E, Serra R, Dell'Aquila G, Cirinei E, Cenni S, Lattanzio F, and Cherubini A
- Subjects
- Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Female, Humans, Italy, Male, Psychometrics statistics & numerical data, Reproducibility of Results, Risk Factors, Surveys and Questionnaires, Accidental Falls prevention & control, Fear psychology, Personality Inventory statistics & numerical data, Quality of Life psychology
- Abstract
Fear of falling (FF) is a common problem in older persons. FF negatively affects the quality of life by generating anxiety, loss of confidence and of self-efficacy, and, ultimately, activity restriction and increased risk of falling. The FES-I and Short FES-I are two instruments developed to assess FF in older persons which have been already validated in some European countries. Our objectives are to develop the Italian version of FES-I and the Short FES-I and to validate them in older persons. The back translation protocol adopted by the ProFaNE group was used to translate both scales from English to Italian. Participants were 157 community-dwelling persons aged>65 years who underwent comprehensive geriatric assessment, including a structured interview concerning FF, and were administered the FES-I and the Short FES-I. Both scales were re-tested after 4 weeks in 151 persons. FES-I and Short FES-I had high internal validity and test-retest reliability. The Short FES-I is highly comparable with the FES-I. We conclude that the FES-I and the Short FES-I are excellent instruments to asses FF in Italian older subjects and they may be used in future research projects and clinical trials.
- Published
- 2009
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