A research-led measurement and knowledge hub

Falls Efficacy

Falls efficacy refers to perceived capability to prevent and manage fall-related situations. It is conceptually distinct from fear or concern about falling and can be considered an empowering construct.

Falls Efficacy Across Different Fall Stages

This research programme considers four confidence domains across different stages of a fall, from maintaining balance to recovery after a fall.

  1. Pre-fall

    Balance confidence

    Confidence in maintaining balance during activities.

  2. Near-fall

    Balance recovery confidence

    Confidence to arrest a fall following a loss of balance, slip, or trip.

  3. Fall-landing

    Safe-landing confidence

    Confidence in protecting oneself during a fall.

  4. Completed Fall

    Post-fall recovery confidence

    Confidence to get up or get help after a fall.

Fall Prevention

Pre-fall and near-fall confidence, covering balance maintenance and balance recovery.

Fall Management

Fall-landing and post-fall confidence, covering safe landing and recovery after a fall.

Fall Prevention and Fall Management are used here as this research programme’s organising framework for the four falls-efficacy domains, rather than as a universally established taxonomy.

Find the Right Measure

Start with the construct you want to assess, then select an instrument that matches the clinical or research purpose.

Near-fall domain

BRC: Balance Recovery Confidence Scale

Assesses confidence in recovering balance following a loss of balance.

Explore BRC
Multidimensional

MdFES: Multidimensional Falls Efficacy Scale

Assesses falls efficacy across multiple situations spanning fall prevention and fall management.

Explore MdFES

Research & Evidence

The research programme focuses on measurement and psychometrics, translation and cross-cultural validation, and the clinical and research relevance of falls efficacy.

Measurement & Psychometrics

Development and validation of falls-efficacy instruments, including BRC and MdFES.

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Translation & Cross-cultural Validation

Ongoing translation and validation work across multiple languages and healthcare settings.

View translation projects

Interventions

Published evidence Conceptual interpretation Future research direction

Explore intervention research relevant to falls efficacy and falls prevention, with a clear distinction between published evidence, conceptual interpretation and future research directions.

Explore the evidence on interventions →

Global Collaboration

The Falls Efficacy programme develops through partnership with researchers, clinicians and institutions internationally.

  • International translation and validation

    Translation and validation work undertaken with international research partners.

  • Peer-reviewed research

    Research outputs disseminated through peer-reviewed academic publications.

  • Cross-cultural collaboration

    Collaboration with clinicians and researchers across countries and healthcare settings.

  • Research-led measurement development

    Measures developed and refined within an academic research programme.

A Research-led Resource

Falls Efficacy is led by an active academic research programme.

Dr Shawn Leng-Hsien Soh

Lead researcher · Physiotherapist · Educator

Singapore Institute of Technology

Advance Falls Efficacy Research and Practice

Explore measurement resources or connect with the research programme to discuss collaboration.