Cross-Cultural Validation of Igbo Version of the Short Falls Efficacy Scale-International Among Community-Dwelling Older Adults

To cross-culturally adapt and validate the original English version of the Short Falls Efficacy Scale-International (SFES-I) to the Igbo culture and environment. The study was a cross-cultural adaptation and validation study that employed the guidelines for cross-cultural adaptation by the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons. The SFES-I was translated, adapted and validated. The English (E-SFES-I) and Igbo (I-SFES-I) versions of the SFES-I, and the Modified Falls Efficacy Scale were administered to purposively recruited 109 consenting older adult residents (53.2% females; mean age = 73.75 ± 7.63 years) of Nnewi community, South-east Nigeria. Descriptive statistics and graphs were used to summarize participants’ socio-demographic and questionnaire data. Mann Whitney-U test, Spearman rank order test, principal component analysis and Cronbach’s alpha were used to analyze data at alpha level of 0.05. All the seven items on the E-SFES-I were retained on the I-SFES-I. There was no significant difference between the scores on the E-SFES-I and the I-SFES-I (p > 0.05). The I-SFES-I showed evidence of excellent known-group validity (ρ = 0.96–1.00) in all the item and total scores. The I-SFES-I also demonstrated excellent convergent validity (rho = 0.93) and internal consistency (α = 0.96). The I-SFES-I is a valid and reliable fear of falling tool, and can be used as an outcome measure for Igbo-speaking older adults.