Development and psychometric properties of the Japanese Residential Environment Checklist for Safety (J-RECS): Self-assessment tool for environmental fall risk factors.

Abstract

Aim: The aims of this study were to develop a self-assessment tool for environmental fall risk factors in Japanese residential environments and to examine its content validity and inter-rater reliability.

Methods: The Japanese Residential Environment Checklist for Safety (J-RECS) was first developed through panel meetings and refined by incorporating the perspectives of older adults. A total of 111 medical and long-term care professionals were recruited to explore the content validity. Each item of the J-RECS was evaluated for relevance, and the item content validity index and scale content validity index were calculated. Moreover, 30 older adults living in their homes were enrolled in this study to investigate the inter-rater reliability. Older adults and rehabilitation professionals simultaneously and independently assessed the older adults' homes, and the kappa statistic was calculated to measure the level of agreement for all J-RECS items.

Results: Of all the J-RECS items, 42 (91.3%) showed an item content validity index ≥0.8. Four items that did not meet the criteria were related to regular use of tables and storage spaces located below knee height. The majority of the items (97.8%) demonstrated moderate-to-excellent levels of agreement. The final version of the J-RECS included 42 items and demonstrated a scale content validity index of 0.91.

Conclusions: The J-RECS has confirmed content validity and inter-rater reliability for appropriately identifying environmental fall risk factors in Japanese residential environments through self-assessment, even for non-professionals. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2025; ••: ••-••.