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RehabMeasures Instrument

Facilitators and Barriers Survey of environmental influences on participation among people with lower limb Mobility impairments and limitations

Purpose

The FABS/M assesses mobility limitations among people with lower limb impairments.

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Instrument Details

Acronym FABS/M

Area of Assessment

Activities of Daily Living
Behavior
Coordination
General Health
Life Participation
Quality of Life

Assessment Type

Patient Reported Outcomes

Administration Mode

Paper & Pencil

Cost

Free

Diagnosis/Conditions

  • Multiple Sclerosis
  • Spinal Cord Injury
  • Stroke Recovery

Key Descriptions

  • Activities and domains are computed for 7 questions on participation:
    A) Frequency / time spent
    B) Importance, choice, and satisfaction
    C) Health-related limitations
    D) Personal assistance and environmental accommodations, adaptations, or special equipment
  • Five self-care activities do not include an assessment of importance.
  • The maximum possible score for all participation questions for the 20 activities is 135.

Number of Items

133

Time to Administer

60-90 minutes

60 to 90 minutes for the hard copy version, a web based version is also available.

Required Training

Reading an Article/Manual

Age Ranges

Adolescent

13 - 17

years

Adult

18 - 64

years

Elderly Adult

65 +

years

Body Part

Lower Extremity

ICF Domain

Activity
Participation

Measurement Domain

Motor

Considerations

  • The hard copy version requires approximately 60 to 90 minutes to complete; the web based version takes about 40 to 60 minutes to complete

  • Unlike the Measure of the Quality of the Environment (MQE) and The Craig Hospital Inventory of Environmental Factors, the FABS/M was designed specifically for people with mobility limitations.

Do you see an error or have a suggestion for this instrument summary? Please e-mail us!

Movement and Gait Disorders

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Normative Data

People with Mobility Impairment: (Gray, et al, 2008)

FABS/M Normative Data for SCI and Stroke:

 

 

FABS/M Domain

SCI

Stroke

Community Primary Mobility Device Use Frequency

3.53

3.07

Community Primary Mobility Device Use Magnitude

3.58

3.53

Home Features Frequency

3.78

3.65

Home Features Magnitude

3.37

3.08

Community Features Frequency

3.05

2.87

Community Features Magnitude

3.37

3.27

Community Natural Frequenc

3.04

3.07

Community Natural Magnitude

2.24

2.11

Community Site Access Magnitude

3.55

3.24

Community Parking Limited

0.13

0.08

Community Structures Limited

0.28

0.14

Community Contacts Frequency

3.06

3.57

Community Care Help

4.42

4.27

Community Attitude Help

4.25

4.13

Community Restroom Accessible

2.29

2.46

Community Transport Accessible

2.42

2.52

Test/Retest Reliability

People with Mobility Impairment: (Gray, et al, 2006; n = 604; mean age = 51.5 (range = 17-92) years; 37% used canes, crutches, or walkers, 17% used Power wheelchair, 14% used manual wheelchair and 15% used scooters, Diagnosis included: Polio Survivors (28%), SCI patients (23%), MS patients (21%) and CP patients (15%))

FABS/M Test-retest Reliability:

 

 

 

 

 

Domain

#Items

Strength

test-retest r

1

Personal Mobility Device Domain

1

N/A

N/A

2

Home Built Features Domain

 

 

 

 

 Frequency of influencing participation

12

Excellent

0.65

 

Magnitude of influencing participation

12

Excellent

0.67

3

Community Built & Natural Features Domain

 

 

 

 

Built

 

 

 

 

Frequency of influencing participation

8

Excellent

0.75

 

 Magnitude of influencing participation

8

Excellent

0.66

 

Natural

 

 

 

 

 Frequency of influencing participation

6

Excellent

0.63

 

Magnitude of influencing participation

6

Adequate

0.52

4

Community Destinations Access Domain

 

 

 

 

Magnitude of influencing participation

13

Excellent

0.62

 

Parking limits participation

13

Excellent

0.82

5

Community Facilities Access Domain

 

 

 

 

Restrooms accessibility

8

Excellent

0.70

 

Transportation accessibility

6

Excellent

0.66

6

Community Support Network Domain

 

 

 

 

Services

 

 

 

 

Frequency of contact

9

Excellent

0.81

 

Magnitude of help

9

Excellent

0.77

 

Attitudes

 

 

 

 

Magnitude of help

9

Excellent

0.77

Internal Consistency

People with Mobility Impairment: (Gray, et al, 2006)

FABS/M Internal Validity:

 

 

 

 

 

Domain

#Items

Strength

Alpha

1

Personal Mobility Device Domain

1

N/A

N/A

2

Home Built Features Domain

 

 

 

 

Frequency of influencing participation

12

Poor

0.60

 

  Magnitude of influencing participation

12

Poor

0.68

3

Community Built & Natural Features Domain

 

 

 

 

Built

 

 

 

 

 Frequency of influencing participation

8

Adequate

0.78

 

 Magnitude of influencing participation

8

Poor

0.64

 

Natural

 

 

 

 

 Frequency of influencing participation

6

Poor

0.65

 

 Magnitude of influencing participation

6

Poor

0.35

4

Community Destinations Access Domain

 

 

 

 

Magnitude of influencing participation

13

Excellent

0.94

 

Parking limits participation

13

Excellent

0.89

5

Community Facilities Access Domain

 

 

 

 

 Restrooms accessibility

8

Excellent

0.90

 

Transportation accessibility

6

Adequate

0.72

6

Community Support Network Domain

 

 

 

 

Services

 

 

 

 

Frequency of contact

9

Poor

0.67

 

  Magnitude of help

9

Adequate

0.70

 

Attitudes

 

 

 

 

Magnitude of help

9

Adequate

0.76

Construct Validity

People with Mobility Impairment: (Gray, et al, 2006)

  • Excellent canonical correlation between the Reintegration to Normal Living (RNL) and the PARTS/M (r = .71 (p < .001)

Discriminant validity of the FABS/M was supported by the differences in scores for environmental features by diagnostic category and assitive device groups.  See Gray et al (2008) for more information.

Content Validity

Interviews used to develop the measure were based on the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health as a conceptual framework.

Face Validity

The PARTS/M was developed with the help of persons with mobility limitations. The views of these participants were captured through personal interviews, concept focus groups, and content focus groups

Bibliography

Gray, D. B., Hollingsworth, H. H., et al. (2008). "A subjective measure of environmental facilitators and barriers to participation for people with mobility limitations." Disabil Rehabil 30(6): 434-457. 

Gray, D. B., Hollingsworth, H. H., et al. (2006). "Participation survey/mobility: psychometric properties of a measure of participation for people with mobility impairments and limitations." Arch Phys Med Rehabil 87(16442971): 189-197. 

Tomey, K. M. and Sowers, M. R. (2009). "Assessment of physical functioning: a conceptual model encompassing environmental factors and individual compensation strategies." Phys Ther 89(7): 705-714.