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The Activities-specific Balance Confidence (ABC) Scale

L E Powell1, A M Myers

  • 1University of Waterloo, Ontario, Department of Health Studies and Gerontology.

The Journals of Gerontology. Series A, Biological Sciences and Medical Sciences
|January 1, 1995
PubMed
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The Activities-specific Balance Confidence (ABC) Scale is a more responsive tool than the Falls Efficacy Scale (FES) for assessing balance confidence in seniors, especially those with higher functioning mobility.

Area of Science:

  • Gerontology
  • Rehabilitation Science
  • Psychometrics

Background:

  • Replication study of the Falls Efficacy Scale (FES).
  • Comparative analysis of FES against the Activities-specific Balance Confidence (ABC) Scale.
  • Focus on enhanced item difficulty continuum and descriptors.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To validate the FES and compare its psychometric properties with the ABC Scale.
  • To evaluate the effectiveness of both scales in assessing balance confidence in older adults.
  • To determine which scale is more sensitive to changes in balance confidence.

Main Methods:

  • Development of a 16-item ABC Scale with input from clinicians and elderly outpatients.
  • Psychometric testing of both FES and ABC scales on 60 community-dwelling seniors (aged 65-95).

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  • Participants were classified as high or low mobility confidence based on ambulation needs.

    • Main Results:

    • Both FES and ABC scales demonstrated strong internal consistency, test-retest reliability, and validity.
    • ABC Scale showed a stronger cumulative scale structure and less score distribution skewness compared to FES.
    • ABC Scale was a more efficient discriminator between mobility groups, yielding a wider response range.

    Conclusions:

    • The FES is psychometrically supported, but the ABC Scale offers greater item responsiveness.
    • The ABC Scale is more suitable for detecting balance confidence loss in higher-functioning seniors.
    • Increased situation-specificity of ABC Scale items aids in targeted intervention planning.