TY - JOUR PY - 2013// TI - Reliability and validity of the Falls Efficacy Scale-International (FES-I) in individuals with dizziness and imbalance JO - Otology and neurotology A1 - Morgan, Michael T. A1 - Friscia, Lauren A. A1 - Whitney, Susan L. A1 - Furman, Joseph M. A1 - Sparto, Patrick J. SP - 1104 EP - 1108 VL - 34 IS - 6 N2 - HYPOTHESIS: The purpose of this research is to establish the test-retest reliability and convergent validity of the Falls Efficacy Scale-International (FES-I) in people with vestibular disorders. BACKGROUND: Individuals with vestibular dysfunction have an increased risk of falling. The FES-I is a measure used to quantify an individual's concern of falling during different tasks. METHODS: A cross-sectional descriptive study was used to determine the test-retest reliability and convergent validity of the FES-I. Fifty-three individuals with vestibular or balance dysfunction completed the FES-I twice during an initial evaluation by a neurotologist. Test-retest reliability was assessed using the intraclass correlation coefficient. The convergent validity was measured by correlating the FES-I with the Activities-Specific Balance Confidence (ABC) scale, Dizziness Handicap Inventory (DHI), Vestibular Activities and Participation (VAP) scale, 4-item Dynamic Gait Index (DGI-4), and measuring gait speed. RESULTS: The FES-I demonstrated high test-retest reliability (intraclass correlation coefficient, model 3,1: 0.94; 95% confidence interval, 0.90-0.97) and had concurrent validity with other self-report and physical performance measures (correlation coefficients for the ABC, -0.84; DHI, 0.75; VAP, 0.78; gait speed, -0.55; and DGI-4, -0.55). CONCLUSION: The FES-I is a reliable and valid tool for measuring an individual's concern of falling in a sample of people with vestibular disorders.

Language: en

LA - en SN - 1531-7129 UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/MAO.0b013e318281df5d ID - ref1 ER -