Development and Validation of a Questionnaire to Assess Older Adults Perception About Fall Risks

Abstract

Introduction: In Brazil, 28% to 35% of individuals over the age of 65 fall each year. Literature suggests that 30% to 40% of falls are preventable through management of risk factors. However, adherence in prevention programs depends on older adults' perceptions about falling. Objective: To develop and to validate a questionnaire to evaluate older adults' perception about fall risks factors. Method: This study was developed through qualitative and methodological approaches. Qualitative method was conducted through content analysis and the questionnaire was tested through content and face validity techniques. Results: The two main categories from qualitative analysis, falls problematization and the perception of risk factors, served as basis for the development of the questionnaire. The proposed research tool, with 36 questions was sent to content validity analysis through evaluation of "judges", in three aspects: clarity of language, importance and theoretical relevance. With these results, it was possible to calculate the validity coefficient (VC).