Reliability, validity, and sensitivity to change of Turkish Activities-specific Balance Confidence Scale in patients with unilateral peripheral vestibular disease

The aim of this study is to evaluate the internal consistency, test-retest reliability, construct validity, and sensitivity to change of the Activities-specific Balance Confidence Scale (ABC) in people with peripheral vestibular disorder. Thirty-three patients with unilateral peripheral vestibular disease were included in the study. Patients were also evaluated with the Visual Analog Scale, the Romberg test (eyes open, closed), the tandem Romberg test (eyes open, closed), standing on foam (eyes open, closed), static posturography, Five Times Sit to Stand test, Timed Up to Go test, gait speed, Dynamic Gait Index, Functional Gait Assessment, and Dizziness Handicap Inventory. To assess sensitivity to change, 27 patients were involved in a 4-week customized vestibular rehabilitation program and then reassessed at the end of 4 weeks. The individual item intraclass correlation coefficient ranged from 0.67 to 0.92 and Crohnbach alpha ranged from 0.67 to 0.93. The Crohnbach alpha value for whole scale was determined as 0.95. Although the Dizziness Handicap Inventory showed significant correlation with the Turkish ABC Scale (r=0.51 - 0.54, P<0.05), no such a correlation was observed between the Turkish ABC Scale and the other parameters assessed (P>0.05). Both Turkish ABC Scale and the other parameters assessed showed significant improvement after 4-week customized exercise program (P<0.05). The Turkish ABC Scale is a culturally relevant, reliable, and sensitive to change tool for measuring self-perceived balance confidence in unilateral peripheral vestibular disease.