Cross-cultural adaptation, reliability, and validity study of the Turkish version of the "Spinal Cord Injury-Falls Concern Scale"

Abstract

Purpose: This study aims to conduct a Turkish validity and reliability study of the Spinal Cord Injury-Falls Concern Scale (SCI-FCS).

Methods: The study involved 134 volunteer patients with spinal cord injury. Various validity analyses, including content validity analysis, Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA), Pearson product-moment correlation coefficient, and Cronbach's alpha value based on a single application for reliability, were employed. The Falls Efficacy Scale-International (FES-I) was used for criterion validity.

Results: All the standardized regression coefficients for the single factor measurement model established with 16 items in the scale are above 0.84. The CFA model, also with a single factor and 16 items, yields the following fit indices: Root-Mean-Square Error of Approximation value of 0.15, Standardized Root Mean Residual Squares value of 0.06, Chi-square value of 2.20, and Comparative Fit Index and Non-Normed Fit Index values of 0.98. The scores they received from the SCI-FCS and the scores they received from the FES-I scale have a statistically significant positive correlation (p < 0.01). The test-retest reliability coefficient value is 0.81, and the Cronbach Alpha value is 0.97.

Conclusion: The Turkish version of the SCI-FCS is a valid and reliable tool for determining fall concerns for patients with spinal cord injury.

Keywords: Spinal cord injury; concern; fall; reliability; validity.