Psychometric properties of a short version of the Activities-specific Balance Confidence scale-Japanese (Short ABC-J) in community-dwelling people with stroke

Background and Purpose: The Activities-specific Balance Confidence (ABC) scale has been widely used as patient-reported outcome measures for community stroke rehabilitation and its short version is beginning to be used. This study aimed to assess the psychometric properties of the short version of the ABC scale-Japanese (Short ABC-J). Methods: Eighty-four participants with chronic stroke (mean age was 66.4 +/- 9.7 years, mean time post stroke was 4.7 +/- 3.5 years) including 66 test-retest samples were analyzed. The Short ABC-J was assessed with the ABC-J, the Falls Efficacy Scale-International (FES-I), the Berg Balance Scale (BBS), and the Timed Up and Go Test (TUG-T). Results:The internal consistency was good (Cronbach's alpha 0.90), reproducibility was excellent [intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC2,1) 0.92], and levels of absolute reliability were acceptable (standard error of measurement and minimal detectable change 8.32 and 23.07, respectively). Concurrent, convergent, and discriminative validity were supported for the FES-I, ABC-J, BBS, and TUG-T (all |rho| > 0.60, p), and identifying balance and mobility (the area under the curve estimates > 0.80) and discriminative power of the Short ABC-J were better than those of the FES-I and equal to or better than those of ABC-J.Conclusion: The Short ABC-J has good psychometric properties and is a valid and reliable measure of balance self-efficacy in Japanese community-dwelling people with chronic stroke. Further replication studies as well as other psychometric studies are needed.