Abstract
Study design
Methodological Research Design.
Objectives
To establish the content validity, internal consistency reliability & test-retest reliability of the SCI-FCS for individuals with SCI in Delhi, India.
Setting
Indian Spinal Injuries Centre, India.
Methods
A panel of 13 experts validated the content of the 16-item scale using both qualitative and quantitative methods. The scale was then piloted with 43 manual wheelchair users with SCI. Internal consistency was assessed through item analysis, and 20 participants were retested after one week to evaluate test-retest reliability.
Results
All items met the minimum Content Validity Ratio (CVR) of 0.54 required for 13 experts, ensuring their retention. The scale demonstrated a strong internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha = 0.865) and good test-retest reliability (ICC = 0.785).
Conclusion
The SCI-FCS is a valid and reliable tool to assess the fall concerns in manual wheelchair users with SCI in Delhi, India. It can help rehabilitation professionals evaluate the effectiveness of fall prevention interventions.
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Data availability
The authors confirm that all data generated or analysed during this study are included in this published article. Data will be made available on request to the corresponding author.
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Acknowledgements
The authors gratefully acknowledge the Indian Spinal Injuries Centre, New Delhi for its support during this study. The authors would like to thank all individuals with SCI and healthy participants for their involvement in this research. The authors also wish to extend their heartfelt gratitude to Dr. Lisa Harvey, the author of the original English SCI-FCS scale, for granting permission to conduct this study.
Funding
This research did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Contributions
Dr. Ruby Aikat and Nishu Tyagi developed the study concept, and all authors contributed to the study design and execution. Dr. Chitra Kataria facilitated patient access based on eligibility criteria. Data collection was conducted by Dr. Priyanka Vijay, Maneesh Bhardwaj, Swati Mishra, Nishu Tyagi. Data entry was performed by Neha Khanna and Dr. Priyanka Vijay. Data analysis was conducted by Dr. Ruby Aikat. Report preparation and manuscript writing were led by Dr. Ruby Aikat with valuable contributions from Nishu Tyagi and Dr. Priyanka Vijay. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.
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Ethical approval
We confirm that all applicable institutional ethical regulations regarding involvement of human participants were strictly adhered to throughout the conduct of this study.
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Aikat, R., Vijay, P., Misra, S. et al. Cross-cultural validation and psychometric testing of the SCI falls concern scale (SCI-FCS) among manual wheelchair users in Delhi, India. Spinal Cord Ser Cases 11, 9 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41394-025-00705-1
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41394-025-00705-1
