Validity and Reliability of the Turkish Version of Balance Outcome Measure for Elder Rehabilitation

English (OpenAlex)

Objective: This study aimed to determine validity and reliability of the Turkish version of Balance Outcome Measure for Elderly Rehabilitation (BOOMER) and to evaluate its psychometric properties. Methods:The study included 60 elderly individuals (30 women, 30 men; mean age 72.03±7.86years).Participants completed the four subtests of the BOOMER (Step Test, Timed Up and Go Test, Functional Reach Test, Timed Static Stand Test) and the Berg Balance Scale (BBS).Descriptive statistics were calculated, Cronbach's alpha and Kendall's W coefficient were used for internal consistency, and Spearman's correlation was used to examine item-total relationships and correlations between the BOOMER and the BBS. Results:The total BOOMER score was found to be 12.52±0.95.Significant correlations were observed between the subtests and the total BOOMER score (r=0.414-0.565,p<0.01).The Cronbach's alpha coefficient was low at 0.022, but the Kendall W coefficient showed moderate reliability at 0.339.For the BBS, the alpha was initially 0.304, but it increased to 0.548 after item-total correlation analysis.A positive and significant correlation was found between the BOOMER total score and the BBS total score (r=0.419,p=0.001). Conclusion:The BOOMER scale is a practical measure that can assess static, dynamic, and functional balance in older adults in a short time.Its significant correlation with the BBS supports the concurrent validity of the scale.However, considering the low internal consistency values, it is recommended that reliability findings be strengthened through further studies in different populations and with larger samples.