BioPsychoSocial
Assessment Tools for the Elderly - Assessment Summary Sheet
Test: Falls Efficacy Scale (FES)
Year: 1990
Domain: Biological
Assessment Tool Category: Mobility
Variations/Translations: Modified Falls Efficacy Scale,
Falls Efficacy Scale- International (FES-I). Available in several
languages.
Setting: Clinical
Method of Delivery: Self-administered questionnaire
Description: The FES is a questionnaire assessing the
confidence level individuals have in performing daily activities
without falling. These activities include: taking a bath or
shower, reaching, walking, preparing meals, etc. This tool is
targeted to the elderly who might have fears of falling which
might affect performance of activities.
Scoring/Interpretation: The FES is a 10 item scale where
each item is rated on a scale of 1-10. A score of 10 signifies no
confidence in these activities; a score of 1 indicates confidence.
Out of a total score of 100, a score of 70 or above indicates the
individual has a fear of falling.
Time to Administer: Generally, FES takes less than 10
minutes.
Availability: Available online
Software: N/A
Website:
http://www.fallpreventiontaskforce.org/pdf/FallsEfficacyScale.pdf
Quantitative/Qualitative: Quantitative
Validity (Quantitative): The tool has been shown to
correlate well with measures of balance and gait. The FES can
predict falls in the future and can predict future declines in
functional capacity. It has been shown to be sensitive to changes
in fear following an intervention directly targeting fears of
falling (no statistics reported).
Reliability (Quantitative): The FES has good test-retest
reliability (ICC=0.96).
References:
Tinetti, M.,Richman, D.,& Powell, L.(1990).Falls efficacy
as a measure of fear of falling. Journals of Gerontology Series
A: Biological and Medical Sciences, 45, 239-43.
Yardley, L., Beyer, N., Hauer, K., Kempen, G., Piot-Ziegler,
C., & Todd, C. (2005). Development and initial validation of
the Falls Efficacy Scale-international (FES-1). Age and Aging,
34, 614-619.
Comments: N/A
|