Fear of older adult falling questionnaire for caregivers (FOAFQ‐CG): Evidence from content validity and item‐response theory graded‐response modelling

Aims: (1) Determine the content validity of the Fear of Older Adult Falling Questionnaire‐Caregivers using a panel of gerontological experts and a target sample of family caregivers (Stage 1) and (2) Examine the response patterns of the Fear of Older Adult Falling Questionnaire‐Caregivers and compare it with older adult version of Fear of Falling Questionnaire Revised using graded‐response modelling (Stage 2). Design: Cross‐sectional mixed‐method design. Methods: Five content experts and 10 family caregivers were involved in the Stage 1 study and 53 family caregiver–older adult dyads (N = 106) were included in the Stage 2 study. The content‐validity index and graded‐response modelling were used to analyse data. Results: Among experts, the Fear of Older Adult Falling Questionnaire‐Caregivers content‐validity index for relevancy, importance, and clarity of individual items and total scale ranged from 0.60–1.00 and from 0.77–0.87, respectively. Among family caregivers, the ratings of the item and scale level content‐validity index for relevancy, importance, and clarity ranged from 0.90–1.00 and from 0.95–0.97, respectively. Combining feedback from both groups, we revised one item. Subsequently, the graded‐response modelling revealed that a 1‐factor, 3‐item version of the Fear of Older Adult Falling Questionnaire‐Caregivers had acceptable psychometric properties. Conclusions: The brief 3‐item version of the Fear of Older Adult Falling Questionnaire‐Caregivers is promising for assessing caregivers' fear of their older adult care recipient falling. Impact: A significant concern for family caregivers is fearing that older adult care recipients will fall, but a lack of validated measures limits the study of this phenomena. A 3‐item version of the Fear of Older Adult Falling Questionnaire‐Caregivers has the potential to identify family caregivers with high fear of older adult falling so that fall risk can be appropriately assessed and addressed.