Construct Validity of a Comprehensive Falls Risk Screening Instrument

Abstract

Falls are serious problems for older adults and they usually result from an interaction of various risk factors (AGS, 2001). Unfortunately, older adults who have fallen or who fear falling may restrict activity causing functional declines that increase risk of future falls (Friedman et al., 2002). PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to establish the construct validity of a comprehensive falls risk screening instrument by examining the association between self-reported physical activity and falls risk. METHODS: Participants were 130 independent-living older adults (M age = 72.5 years, SD = 10.5) who were examined for falls risk using a comprehensive screening instrument developed according to the AGS risk factors (2001). The screening instrument assesses falls risk in five domains including history of falls, medication management, vision, physical functioning (i.e., mobility and balance), and home environment. These domains are averaged to produce a total falls risk score. The falls risk domains and total score are based on a 0–100 point scale with 100 representing high risk for falls. The participants also responded to the Physical Activity Scale for the Elderly (PASE; Washburn et al., 1993). The PASE is a physical activity recall instrument that provides a total activity score for a one-week period. RESULTS: Multiple regressions adjusting for gender, race, marital status, and education were conducted to analyze the relationships between the total PASE score, the five falls risk scores, and the total falls risk score. As expected, the total PASE score was negatively related to the history (b = −0.085, p <.01), physical functioning (b = −0.079, p <.01), and total (b = −0.050, p <.01) falls risk scores (i.e., convergent validity). Furthermore, the total PASE score was not significantly related to the medication (b = −0.045, p =.16), vision (b = −0.036, p =.15), and environment (b = −0.0002, p =.68) falls risk scores (i.e., discriminant validity). CONCLUSIONS: The results provide evidence of the construct validity of a comprehensive falls risk screening instrument.