Frenchay Activities Index – FAI
Measures instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) and social participation, primarily in stroke survivors.
Scale Development & Technical Details
Scale Overview
The Frenchay Activities Index – FAI was developed by Holbrook, M. & Skilbeck, C. E. (1983). It is designed to measure Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADL). The scale is intended for use with Stroke patients and older adults.
Scale Structure
This instrument consists of 15 items organized into 3 factors/subscales: Domestic, Outdoors, Leisure/Work.
| Factor / Subscale | Items | N |
|---|---|---|
| Domestic | 1,2,3,4,5 | 5 |
| Outdoors | 6,7,8,9,10 | 5 |
| Leisure/Work | 11,12,13,14,15 | 5 |
Response Format
Respondents rate each item using a custom response format.
Response anchors: 1 = Never / None / Lowest frequency, 2 = Low frequency / Light, 3 = Moderate frequency / Moderate, 4 = High frequency / Most days / All necessary / Full time.
Scoring
Items are summed to produce a total score.
Total scores range from 15 to 60. Interpretation guidelines:
- Low activity level: 15 – 30
- Moderate activity level: 31 – 45
- High activity level: 46 – 60
Psychometric Properties
Internal Consistency: The scale has demonstrated good to excellent internal consistency with reported Cronbach’s alpha values of Adequate test-retest and internal consistency.
Administration
The scale is self-administered and typically takes approximately 5 minutes to complete. It can be administered individually or in group settings. No special training is required for administration.