title: Falls efficacy scale-international: a cross-sectional validation in people with multiple sclerosis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate psychometric properties of 16-item and 7-item Falls Efficacy Scale-International (FES-I) in people with multiple sclerosis (MS).
  
  
  METHODS
  Validation and prospective cohort study.
  
  
  METHODS
  People with MS living in metropolitan areas.
  
  
  METHODS
  Community-dwelling people with MS (N=169; aged 21-73y) who were referred to Multiple Sclerosis Australia for physiotherapy assessment.
  
  
  METHODS
  Not applicable.
  
  
  METHODS
  FES-I scores and a range of sociodemographic, physical, and neuropsychological measures.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean score for the 16-item FES-I was 34.9±11.2, and the mean score for the 7-item FES-I was 14.7±4.7. FES-I total scores were normally distributed: skewness of .35 (SEM=.19) for the 16-item and .47 (SEM .19) for the 7-item FES-I, indicating the absence of floor and ceiling effects. Internal reliability was excellent, with Cronbach's alpha values of .94 (16-item) and .86 (7-item). Rasch analyses indicated that the structure and measurement properties were better for the 7-item FES-I than for the 16-item FES-I. Construct validity of both scales was supported by sensitivity to group differences relating to demographic characteristics and fall-risk factors.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The findings indicate that both 16-item and 7-item versions of the FES-I provide valuable information about the fear of falling in people with MS. However, the 7-item version of FES-I has better psychometric properties in people with MS.
authors.affiliation: Neuroscience Research Australia and University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia.
authors.forename: Rob
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: van Vliet
authors.forename: Phu
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Hoang
authors.forename: Stephen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lord
authors.forename: Simon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gandevia
authors.forename: Kim
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Delbaere
mesh_terms: D000058:Accidental Falls; D000203:Activities of Daily Living / Q000523:psychology; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D005239:Fear / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000150:complications* / Q000523:psychology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011594:Psychometrics; D020377:Self Efficacy; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult