Measurement Properties of the Activities-specific Balance Confidence Scale Among Individuals with Stroke

Purpose: To examine the reliability and validity of the Activities-specific Balance Confidence (ABC) scale among individuals with stroke.

Method: Descriptive measurement study using a 4-week test-retest design. Data were collected at a tertiary rehabilitation centre form a community-dwelling sample of ambulatory older adults who sustained one stroke at least 1 year prior to the study. During the first measurement session, the total sample (n = 77) completed the ABC as well as the Berg Balance Scale (BBS) and gait speed. The reliability sample (n = 24), a subset of the larger data set, completed the ABC again 4 weeks later.

Results: Internal consistency of the ABC was 0.94 and test-retest reliability was ICC = 0.85 (95% CI, 0.68, 0.93). A moderate significant positive, linear correlation with both the BBS (rho = 0.36, P < 0.001) and gait speed (rho = 0.48, P < 0.001) was observed. A factor analysis using principal component analysis indicated that the ABC measures two components of balance self-efficacy (component 1 = perceived low-risk activities; component 2 = perceived high-risk activities).

Conclusion: The ABC has acceptable measurement properties as demonstrated in this sample of individuals with stroke. This study provides further support for the use of the scale.