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Measuring fear of falling and its effect on quality of life and activity

Part of: Bespoke shallow archive Weizmann

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 July 2010

J Perez-Jara ,
D Walker ,
P Heslop  and
S Robinson
J Perez-Jara*
Affiliation:
Musculoskeletal Unit, Freeman Hospital, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK Hospital El Bierzo, Ponferrada, Leon, Spain
D Walker
Affiliation:
Musculoskeletal Unit, Freeman Hospital, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
P Heslop
Affiliation:
Musculoskeletal Unit, Freeman Hospital, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
S Robinson
Affiliation:
Musculoskeletal Unit, Freeman Hospital, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
*
Address for correspondence: Dr Javier Perez-Jara, Room 79A, Musculoskeletal Department, Freeman Hospital, Freeman Road, Newcastle upon Tyne NE7 7DN, United Kingdom. E-mail: Javier.Perez@nuth.nhs.uk
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Summary

In this review, we analyse original research articles in English and Spanish in which fear of falling (FoF) as a long-term syndrome defines the participants, or is the main outcome, or in cases where FoF is a secondary outcome, falls or activity are the main outcomes.

FoF is difficult to measure. Attempts are made to do so by use of single questions or scales. Restriction in activity due to FoF is a secondary outcome and can be an important influence on a person's quality of life. There are also various methods of measuring it by use of single questions or scales, and general questions in basic or instrumental activities of daily living (ADL) indices are frequently used. Other scales or questionnaires about quality of life (such as the SF-36) or activity (such as the Survey of Activity and Fear of Falling Scales (SAFE), or the Groningen Activity Restriction Scale (GARS)) are also used. The varying objectives of the analysed articles explain some of the variations in measures used. Further work is required to reach a consensus on definition and standardized measurement of FoF and its effect on quality of life and activity.

Keywords

fallsfear of fallingactivityactivity restrictionmeasurementolder people
Type
Clinical geriatrics
Information
Reviews in Clinical Gerontology , Volume 20 , Issue 4 , November 2010 , pp. 277 - 287
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2010

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