J Korean Acad Rehabil Med.  2010 Jun;34(3):342-346.

The Relationship between Korean Version of Falls Efficacy Scale - International and Frequency of Falls in the Healthy Elderly Visiting the Public Health Centers

• Cho KY
• Lee KY
• Jang SH
• Kwon IS
• Park BJ
• Kim MJ

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
To see whether there is a relationship between Korean Falls Efficacy Scale-International (KFES-I) developed for measuring fear of falling and frequency of fall. METHOD: KFES-I was composed with 16 items of activities of daily living including social activities and graded from 1 to 4 in each item. Surveys of 250 patients over 65 years of age from the public health center of Kang-dong and Seong-buk based on KFES-I and fall questionnaire such as presence, frequency and severity of fracture within last 6 months, and combined medical illness were taken. The data of KFES-I, fall questionnaire, and the inter-relationship of KFES-I items had been analyzed by Spearman and Kendall test.
RESULTS
There was strong positive correlation between KFES-I total score and the frequency of falls. Four items (item 4, 7, 11, 15) of KFES-I showed strong correlation with the frequency of falls. There was significant difference in KFES-I total score between control and fracture groups (p<0.05).
CONCLUSION
Our results showed that there was strong positive correlation between frequency of falls and KFES-I. It is suggested that frequency of falls can be predicted by KFES-I.

Keyword

Elderly; Falls; Fracture; KFES-I

MeSH Terms

Activities of Daily Living
Aged
Humans
Public Health
Surveys and Questionnaires