The purpose of this study was to determine if the Activities-specific Balance Confidence (ABC) Scale, Falls Efficacy Scale (FES), and Survey of Activities and Fear of Falling in the Elderly (SAFE) assessments measured fear of falling in the same manner (convergent validity) and to determine if they predicted those individuals who, based upon a previous history of falls, limitation of activity, and not leaving home, had an increased potential for falling (predictive validity). One hundred and eighteen individuals, 60 years of age and older, completed each of the assessments. They self-reported activity restriction, fall history, and the number of times they left the home each week. The convergent validity of each assessment was established by correlating each assessment tool with each of the others. Findings indicated the ABC and FES were highly correlated with each other, indicating they measured similar constructs, and both were moderately correlated with the SAFE, suggesting these assessments measured different constructs. The predictive validity of each instrument in relation to the frequency of falls, limitation of activity, and frequency of leaving the home revealed no individual tool could accurately predict any of these characteristics of the sample. As a result, no one test by itself was able to identify individuals who may be at risk and a candidate for an intervention program.

This study examined the psychometric properties of the Head Injury Behaviour Scale (HIBS) using responses from 242 caregivers. The HIBS is a 20-item, scale describing common behavioural problems following traumatic brain injury (TBI), which are typical of dysexecutive syndrome. A principal components analysis was conducted on caregiver distress ratings for the 20 items comprising the HIBS and produced a two-factor solution with 10 items loading on each factor. Consequently, two sub-scales were derived and labelled Emotional Regulation and Behavioural Regulation. The sub-scales were found to have good internal-consistency reliability. It is suggested that the Emotional Regulation sub-scale assesses behaviours reflecting impaired emotional control, occurring during interactions with caregivers. The Behavioural Regulation sub-scale assesses problems typical of dysexecutive syndrome, but which carry less emotional valence for caregivers. The clinical implications of these findings are discussed and normative data provided for the two sub-scales.