Volume : I, Issue : II, July - 2012

Modified Falls Behavioral Scale for Indian Community Dwelling Older Adults

V. Guruprasad, Sebestina A D Souza, Kr. Banumathe

Abstract :

In the absence of culturally relevant measurement tool to assess behavior factors leading to fall in Indian older adults, this study aims to develop an objective measure to assess behavioral factors leading to fall by modifying the existing Falls Behavioral Scale for Australian older adults and establish its content and construct validity. METHOD: Following interviews with older adults, the existing scale was modified for language and relevant items. The 30-item preliminary scale thus developed was sent to experts for content validation, following which five items were added. For the field trial, 193 older adults were assessed with the 35 items Modified Falls Behavioral Scale, the Berg Balance Scale, and physical functioning component of SF-36. RESULTS: Following factor analysis, one item was eliminated, the items were reloaded to different dimensions and one new dimension “Anticipatory Strategies” was introduced. The final 34- item scale was positively associated with history of fall in last one year (r = 0.021, p < .005) and age of the older adults (r = 0.26, p <.001). The scale also had significant negative correlation with Berg Balance Scale (r=-.4, p< .001), number of times an older adult went out in last one month (r = -0.031, p < .001), and SF 36 Physical Functioning (r = -.18, p = .01). CONCLUSION: In the present study, a 34-item Modified Falls Behavioral Scale was developed to assess fall behaviors in Indian older adults, and its content validity and construct validity is established.

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Article: Download PDF   DOI : 10.36106/ijsr  

Cite This Article:

V.Guruprasad, Sebestina A D’Souza, KR.Banumathe Modified Falls Behavioral Scale for Indian Community Dwelling Older Adults International Journal of Scientific Research, Vol.I, Issue.II July 2012

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