Abstract
Study design:
Review by the spinal cord outcomes partnership endeavor (SCOPE), which is a broad-based international consortium of scientists and clinical researchers representing academic institutions, industry, government agencies, not-for-profit organizations and foundations.
Objectives:
Assessment of current and evolving tools for evaluating human spinal cord injury (SCI) outcomes for both clinical diagnosis and clinical research studies.
Methods:
a framework for the appraisal of evidence of metric properties was used to examine outcome tools or tests for accuracy, sensitivity, reliability and validity for human SCI.
Results:
Imaging, neurological, functional, autonomic, sexual health, bladder/bowel, pain and psychosocial tools were evaluated. Several specific tools for human SCI studies have or are being developed to allow the more accurate determination for a clinically meaningful benefit (improvement in functional outcome or quality of life) being achieved as a result of a therapeutic intervention.
Conclusion:
Significant progress has been made, but further validation studies are required to identify the most appropriate tools for specific targets in a human SCI study or clinical trial.
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Alexander, M., Anderson, K., Biering-Sorensen, F. et al. Outcome measures in spinal cord injury: recent assessments and recommendations for future directions. Spinal Cord 47, 582–591 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1038/sc.2009.18
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/sc.2009.18
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