Cultural adaptation and Sepedi translation of the Activities-specific Balance Confidence scale.
Tammy L Prinsloo, Karin Joubert
PMID 38832365WHAT IT FOUND
The Sepedi version of a balance-confidence questionnaire was culturally adapted and gave stable results when given again to 32 older rural adults.
It can help assess balance confidence, but this study did not test whether it predicts falls.
Key findings
01The Sepedi ABC scale was culturally adapted by changing 10 of the original 16 items for rural South African life.
02The adapted scale’s total score showed high consistency over time (0.85) and between raters (0.81).
03Older rural Sepedi speakers reported mean balance confidence of 81.3 on the scale’s 0% to 100% ratings.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTsWhat it means for OTs
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What it does not show
Only 32 participants were assessed, all from one rural municipal area in Limpopo, so results may not apply to urban or other Sepedi-speaking communities. The study tested translation and consistency, not validity, so it did not show that scores predict falls. Participants were required to be ambulatory and independent in daily activities, and people with conditions that increase fall risk or unmanaged hearing or vision problems were excluded, so findings do not apply to more impaired older adults. Four items (1, 3, 10 and 16) had weak relationships with the total score, and the authors suggested considering removing them. Fear of falling was assessed with one unvalidated question, not a standard measure. Comparisons with other language versions are limited because inclusion criteria differed; the Sepedi and Brazilian studies excluded higher-risk participants, while the isiZulu and Canadian studies included people with impairments.
Declared interests
The paper states that no specific grant was received from any funding agency in the public, commercial or not-for-profit sectors.
The easy way to misread this
Do not treat a score below 67 as proof that this Sepedi version predicts falls in older adults. This study tested translation and consistency, not fall prediction.