A telephone-based version of the spinal cord injury–secondary conditions scale: a reliability and validity study

Abstract

Objective: The objective of this study was to determine the inter-rater reliability and validity of using a telephone-based version of the spinal cord injury-secondary conditions scale (SCI-SCS). Trial design: A psychometric study was conducted. Setting: The study was conducted in Royal North Shore Hospital, Sydney, Australia. Participants: Forty people with a complete or an incomplete spinal cord injury. Methods: Inter-rater reliability was tested by comparing the telephone-based version of the SCI-SCS administered on two different days by two different telephone assessors. Validity was tested by comparing the telephone-based version of the SCI-SCS with the paper-based version of the SCI-SCS. Results: The median (interquartile range) age and time since injury were 54 (48-63) years and 28 (14-35) years, respectively. The intraclass correlation coefficient (95% confidence interval) reflecting the agreement between the telephone-based version of the SCI-SCS administered on two different days by two different assessors was 0.96 (0.93-0.98). The corresponding value reflecting agreement between the telephone-based assessment and the paper-based assessment was 0.90 (0.83-0.95). Conclusion:The telephone-based version of the SCI-SCS is a simple and a quick questionnaire to administer that has both inter-rater reliability and validity. It may be useful as a way to screen for secondary health conditions in low-and middle-income countries where it is not always feasible to provide routine face-to-face follow-ups and where literacy may be a problem. Spinal Cord (2016) 54, 402-405; doi:10.1038/sc.2015.119; published online 21 July 2015 INTRODUCTIONPeople with spinal cord injury (SCI) are susceptible to various secondary health conditions (that is, complications). These conditions have an impact on physical health, psychological well-being, quality of life and community participation. [1][2][3][4][5] The common secondary health conditions after SCI include pressure ulcers, urinary tract infections, deep vein thrombosis, spasticity, pain, respiratory problems and autonomic dysreflexia. 6 Some of these can be life threatening. In high-income countries, people with SCI are regularly followed up and assessed by clinicians for secondary health conditions. However, this level of service is often not feasible in low-and middle-income countries (LMIC). It is therefore important to find inexpensive ways to screen people for secondary health conditions that do not require costly and regular face-to-face assessments. If those at high risk of secondary health conditions could be identified, then they could be targeted for follow-up with clinicians and further investigation.There is currently only one assessment scale that is quick and easy to use and may provide a way for clinicians in LMIC to screen people with SCI for secondary health conditions. The assessment scale is called the Spinal Cord Injury-Secondary Conditions Scale (SCI-SCS). 7 It was first published in 2007 and is an adaptation of the generic Seekins Secondary Condition Que...

Psychological and socioeconomic status, complications and quality of life in people with spinal cord injuries after discharge from hospital in Bangladesh: a cohort study

“…Future versions of the SCI Secondary Conditions Scale need to clarify this distinction in the instructional text. 13 The responses to the participation items of the WHODAS indicated limited community engagement and other areas of concern. For example, 70% of participants who were wheelchair-dependent indicated that their SCI had created 'severe' family problems (n = 117/168) and a drain on their finances (n = 125/168).…”

“…The telephone version of this scale has recently been validated. 13 The list of complications includes those related to pressure ulcers, bladder and bowel incontinence, pain, poor blood pressure control, contractures and spasm. Responses to each item are tallied.…”

Health status, quality of life and socioeconomic situation of people with spinal cord injuries six years after discharge from a hospital in Bangladesh

“…Data about secondary conditions were collected using the SCI-SCS. This is a standardised and validated 16-item questionnaire about complications such as pressure ulcers, respiratory problems, urinary and bladder incontinence, sexual dysfunction, autonomic dysreflexia, postural hypotension, spasticity, contractures and pain [16,17]. Participants were asked to rate the 16 items according to their experiences over the last three months on a 4-point scale (0-3) where a score of zero reflects "Not experienced in the last 3 months or not a significant problem" and a score of four reflects "Severe or chronic problem".…”

Community-based InterVentions to prevent serIous Complications (CIVIC) following spinal cord injury in Bangladesh: protocol of a randomised controlled trial

“…The details of each secondary outcome are as follows: The burden of complications will be measured using the SCI Secondary Conditions Scale (SCI-SCS). 36 37 This is a 16-item scale. Each item is scored from 0 (did not experience the complication in the last 3 months) to 3 (significant or chronic problem over the past 3 months).…”