Predictive Abilities of Balance Confidence and Fear of Falling Measures on Falls in Polio Survivors

Abstract

Purposes: To determine 1) predictors of falls in adult survivors of polio and 2) if Activities-specific Balance Confidence (ABC) scale or Falls Efficacy Scale-International (FES-I) better predicted falls in this population. Methods: 415 participants completed anonymous on-line surveys, including fall history, walking status, ABC scale, FES-I, and Geriatric Depression Scale-15. Logistic and linear regressions and receiver operating curve analyses performed. Results: 69% and 81% of participants reported falls and fear of falling (FoF) (yes/no), respectively. Walking status significantly predicted falls in overall model. ABC significantly predicted falls in people who walk by separate logistic regressions. FES-I, reported FoF, and in-community walking status predicted fall frequency by linear regression. Conclusions: ABC, FES-I, and reported FoF are related to falling, especially in polio survivors who walk, with the ABC scale better predicting falls. Measures used were unhelpful in fall prediction for people who primarily use wheelchairs for locomotion.

Keywords:

• Balance confidence
• depression
• falls
• fear of falling
• post-poliomyelitis syndrome
• sequelae of polio

Acknowledgements

We wish to acknowledge the following: Zoheb Allam, MS for statistical assistance; Erin Housinger, PT, DPT, Celeste Santillan, PT, DPT, Bianca Zuckerman, PT, DPT for their work on prior pilot and current studies including translation of survey and ABC; Post-Polio Health International for recruitment assistance. Erin, Celeste, Bianca, Lesley (co-author), and Emily (co-author) assisted with this study as part of degree requirements for the Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) from Texas Woman's University.

Notes

1 PsychData®, State College, USA.

2 MedCalc^®, Acacialaan 22, 8400 Ostend, Belgium.

3 IBM SPSS Statistics, Armonk, USA.