Citation

Alharbi AA, Al Amer HS, Albalwi AA, Muthaffar MY, Alshehre YM, Albalawi HF, Alshaikhi TE. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2023; 20(8).

Copyright

(Copyright © 2023, MDPI: Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute)

DOI

10.3390/ijerph20085606

PMID

37107888

PMCID

PMC10139053

Abstract

A simple, valid, and reliable self-assessment fall-risk questionnaire in Arabic is needed to significantly promote awareness and develop fall-prevention programs. This study translated and adapted the Fall Risk Questionnaire (FRQ) into Arabic and determined its validity and reliability among Saudi Arabian older adults in two phases: (1) cross-culturally adapting the FRQ into Arabic and (2) assessing the adapted questionnaire's psychometric properties in two sessions with 110 Arabic-speaking participants aged ≥65 years. Pearson's r showed that the Arabic FRQ had a significant moderate negative relationship with the Berg Balance Scale and fair-to-moderate positive correlations with Five Time Sit to Stand and Time Up and Go. The receiver operating characteristic curve indicated a significant area under the curve = 0.81. The cut-off score was 7.5 and associated with 73.7% sensitivity and 73.6% specificity. Internal consistency was estimated as good, with Cronbach's α = 0.77. Deletion of item 1 slightly increased Cronbach's α to 0.78. The Arabic FRQ demonstrated excellent test-retest reliability, with an intraclass correlation coefficient = 0.95 (95% CI: 0.92-0.97). It is highly valid and reliable in providing valuable data for evaluating fall risk in adults aged ≥65 years and for consulting a specialist for further investigation if necessary.

Language: en

Keywords

older adults; risk assessment; falls; fall prevention