Reliability and Validity of the Turkish Version of the Tinetti Fall Efficacy Scale in Older People

Reliability and Validity of the Turkish Version of the Tinetti Fall Efficacy Scale in Older People and Comparison With Other Fall Scales

The Joint International Commission (JCI) defines a fall as an unplanned, abrupt, change of motion towards the ground that may result in physical injury. Falls are among the most obvious reasons for applying to health centers after an involuntary external injury. Risk of falls diagnostic tools; It is used to reduce the incidence of falls, to reduce the severity of falls, to increase walking and existing functional status, to determine the factors causing falls and to keep them under control, and to raise awareness of health personnel about falls. This study aims to make the Turkish cultural adaptation of the Tinetti Fall Efficiency Scale, to test the validity and reliability of the factorial structure in elderly individuals. It was planned to determine that it is specific and sensitive. The Fall Efficiency Scale (DAS) was developed based on the definition of this fear as "low perceived self-efficacy in avoiding falls during harmless activities of daily living".

Is the fall effectiveness scale an effective scale that determines the fear of falling? To find the answer to this question of which scale is more sensitive when compared to other scales, to ensure the adaptation of the elderly individuals in Turkish society and to raise awareness of the discomforts that can be experienced after falling to the geriatric individual and their surroundings, as a result of this, by enabling those at risk of falling to contact health professionals, preventive rehabilitation and other treatment methods are encouraged. It is aimed to gain public awareness about reducing health expenditures and protecting body integrity.

This thesis study is suitable for the methodological research method that investigates the validity and reliability of a questionnaire. In this study demographic data (age, gender, educational status, occupation, marital status) of individuals will be questioned in the initial evaluations. Height (m), weight (kg) will be recorded and body mass index (BMI) will be determined as body weight/height2 (kg/m2). The drugs used, co-morbidities, backgrounds will be recorded in the socio-demographic information forms of the individuals will be applied. This study aimed to adapt the Tinetti Fall Effectiveness Scale (FES), a tool to measure fear of falling, into Turkish, to demonstrate its validity-reliability and sensitivity to change in elderly individuals, and to compare the Timed Up and Go Test, Fall Risk Self-Assessment Scale, Tinetti Balance, and Gait Assessment and Activity. Together with the Specific Balance Confidence scales, an answer was sought for the question of which is the most effective scale for falling.

In scale studies, taking at least 3 or 5-10 people for each scale item constitutes the sample size. As the Fall Efficiency Scale consisted of 10 items, it was planned to study with 51 individuals.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Being 65 years old and over,
• Not having a cooperation problem (individuals with a mini mental test score >24),
• Not having communication difficulties or problems
• Voluntarily accepts participation in the research.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Those with uncontrollable hypertension, heart disease, cardiac arrhythmia, cardiovascular disease,
• Those who have malignancy and cause malignancy, receive chemotherapy, radiotherapy,
• Those who have any neurological or orthopedic disorder that will disrupt the balance,
• Individuals who are addicted to alcohol and drugs,
• Those who do not accept to participate in the research.