Turkish Adaptation of the Multidimensional Falls Efficacy Scale in Older Adults

Falls are a major health concern among older adults and can lead to injuries, reduced independence, and a lower quality of life. In addition to physical changes associated with aging, an individual's confidence in preventing falls, maintaining balance, and managing situations during and after a fall may influence daily activities and social participation. The Multidimensional Falls Efficacy Scale (MdFES) is a questionnaire designed to assess older adults' confidence in performing everyday activities without falling. It includes activities related to both daily living and participation in the community. A culturally adapted and reliable Turkish version of this questionnaire is needed to assess fall-related self-efficacy in Turkish-speaking older adults. The aim of this study is to adapt the MdFES into Turkish and evaluate its validity, reliability, and other measurement properties in older adults. The study will examine whether the Turkish version measures fall-related self-efficacy appropriately and provides consistent results. The findings may provide researchers and healthcare professionals with a useful assessment tool for evaluating fall-related self-efficacy in older adults. This may support the identification of individuals who lack confidence in performing daily activities and contribute to research and clinical approaches aimed at improving confidence, independence, and participation in everyday life.

Inclusion Criteria: * Adults aged 65 years and older. * Community-dwelling individuals living independently in the community. * Individuals able to move independently at home, with or without an assistive device. * Individuals who voluntarily agree to participate and provide informed consent. Exclusion Criteria: * Individuals with a Standardized Mini-Mental State Examination (SMMSE) score of 23 or lower. * Individuals with neurological disorders that may significantly affect balance, mobility, or falls-related self-efficacy.