Short Falls Efficacy Scale-International
Below are some questions about how concerned you are about the possibility of falling. Please
reply thinking about how you usually do the activity. If you currently don’t do the activity (for
example, if someone does your shopping for you), please answer to show whether you think
you would be concerned about falling IF you did the activity. For each of the following activities,
please check the box which is closest to your own opinion to show how concerned you are that
you might fall if you did this activity.
None
A Little
Medium
A Lot
No
Concern
Somewhat
Concerned
Fairly
Very
Concerned Concerned
1. Getting dressed or undressed
1
2
3
4
2. Taking a shower or bath
1
2
3
4
3. Getting in or out of a chair
1
2
3
4
4. Going up or down stairs
1
2
3
4
5. Reaching for something above your
head or on the ground
1
2
3
4
6. Walking up or down a slope
1
2
3
4
7. Going out to a social event
(religious service, family gathering,
club meeting)
1
2
3
4
Total
Adapted from the Prevention of Falls Network Europe, Falls Efficacy Scale International Kempen GIJM, Yardley L., Haastregt JCM van, Zijlstra GAR, Beyer N, Hauer K, Todd
C
SCORING​:​ Low Concern: 7-8; Moderate Concern: 9-13; High Concern: 14-28​.
Short Falls Efficacy Scale International/ Short FES-I
To calculate the Short FES-I score when all items are completed, simply add the scores for each item
together to give a total that ranges as follows:
● Short FES-I: minimum 7 (no concern about falling) to maximum 28 (severe concern about
falling)
Short FES-I
Low concern
Mod concern
7-8
9-13
High concern
14-28
Scoring with missing items
If responses are missing on 3 or more items for Short-FES-I then the questionnaire scores cannot be
used. If responses are missing on 2 or less on Short FES-I then it is possible to calculate the Short
FES-I score.
First: Calculate the total score of the items which have been completed.
Second: Divide that score by the number of items completed
Third: Multiply by 7 (Short FES-I).
The new total score should be rounded up to the nearest whole number to give the score for an
individual. For example, if scores on Short FES-I were: Item 1=2 Item 2=3 Item 3=missing Item 4=3
Item 5=2 Item 6=4 Item 7=missing Then 2+3+3+2+4=14/5 = 2.8×7= 19.6 which is rounded up to 20.
Falls Efficacy Scale-I - Short FES-I. (2019). Retrieved 21 December 2019, from ​https://sites.manchester.ac.uk/fes-i/
In Medigraph Special Tests under Questionnaires
SHORT FALLS EFFICACY SCALE-INTERNATIONAL (Short FES-I)
Used to assess concerns about falling relating to 5 basic indoor and 2 community activities. Any adult may develop a fear
of falling leading to curtailment of activities, reduced mobility and fitness, and increasing risk of falling.
Concern/Fear of Falling Scoring:
LOW CONCERN 7-8
MODERATE CONCERN 9-13
HIGH CONCERN 14-28
(Fall Efficacy Scale-I - Short FES-I. (2019). Retrieved 21 December 2019, from https://sites.manchester.ac.uk/fes-i/)
Score:
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