Background: Falls is worldwide health problem among older adults. Different scales have been introduced related to falls, including Falls Efficacy Scale (FES) and Activity-Specific Balance Scale (ABCS). Persian version of these scale needs to be assessed for internal consistency. The aim of this study was to evaluate the internal consistency of Persian version of FES and ABCS.Methods: In this pilot descriptive cross-sectional study, subjects (n=۲۰) were selected by convenient sampling from elderly community dwellers. Prior to assessing the internal consistency, the original scales were first translated and culturally adapted from English into Persian according to a standardized procedure. Moreover the
Cronbach’s alpha of the scales was calculated by SPSS software version ۲۱.Results: The
Cronbach’s alpha of the FES and ABCS were calculated as ۰.۸۹۵ and ۰.۸۹۴, respectively. The inter-item correlation matrix of FES with ۱۰ item and ABCS with ۱۶ items, were positive and acceptable in both scales. Moreover,
Cronbach’s alpha if item deleted for all items in ABCS were lower than ۰.۸۹۴ and in FES were below ۰.۸۹۵. It suggests that if each item deleted in both scales, the consistency of the test would decline. Therefor all items were necessary for the scales.Conclusions: The unity of the scales and internal consistency of the ۱۶-item ABCS and ۱۰-item of FES were good and comparable to what has been reported for previous versions of the scales in other cultures. FES and ABCS are two scales which can be used in Persian language for further studies on falls among older adults.Background: Falls is worldwide health problem among older adults. Different scales have been introduced related to falls, including Falls Efficacy Scale (FES) and Activity-Specific Balance Scale (ABCS). Persian version of these scale needs to be assessed for internal consistency. The aim of this study was to evaluate the internal consistency of Persian version of FES and ABCS. Methods: In this pilot descriptive cross-sectional study, subjects (n=۲۰) were selected by convenient sampling from elderly community dwellers. Prior to assessing the internal consistency, the original scales were first translated and culturally adapted from English into Persian according to a standardized procedure. Moreover the
Cronbach’s alpha of the scales was calculated by SPSS software version ۲۱. Results: The
Cronbach’s alpha of the FES and ABCS were calculated as ۰.۸۹۵ and ۰.۸۹۴, respectively. The inter-item correlation matrix of FES with ۱۰ item and ABCS with ۱۶ items, were positive and acceptable in both scales. Moreover,
Cronbach’s alpha if item deleted for all items in ABCS were lower than ۰.۸۹۴ and in FES were below ۰.۸۹۵. It suggests that if each item deleted in both scales, the consistency of the test would decline. Therefor all items were necessary for the scales. Conclusions: The unity of the scales and internal consistency of the ۱۶-item ABCS and ۱۰-item of FES were good and comparable to what has been reported for previous versions of the scales in other cultures. FES and ABCS are two scales which can be used in Persian language for further studies on falls among older adults.