Abstract
Study design
Multi-center, repeated measures
Objectives
Evaluate psychometric properties of the SCIM-III in children.
Setting
Seven facilities in North America
Methods
One-hundred and twenty-seven youths, mean age of 10.8 years and chronic spinal cord injury/dysfunction completed two administrations of the Spinal Cord Independence Measure-III (SCIM-III). Mean, standard deviation, range values were calculated for SCIM-III total and subscales for the entire sample, four age groups and injury characteristics. Test-retest reliability, concurrent validity, and floor and ceiling effects were examined.
Results
Total SCIM-III and self-care (SC) subscale scores for the youngest age group were lower than those for the three older age groups. There were statistically significant differences in SC subscale scores between neurological level (NL) C5-T1 and T2 -T12; C5-T1 and L1-S4/5; and T2-T12 and L1-S4/5 and in in-room, and indoor/outdoor mobility subscale scores between C1-C4 and T2-T12; C1-C4 and L1-S4/5; C5-T1 and T2-T12; C5-T1 and L1-S4/5; and T2-T12 and L1-S4/5. All scores between motor complete and motor incomplete differed. Test-retest reliability was good (ICC values = > 0.84) and there was moderate to strong correlation between SCIM-III and the FIM® Instrument (r = 0.77–0.92). Ceiling effects were present in the SC subscale for the oldest age group (24%) and for NL L1-S4/5 (35.5%) and in in-room mobility subscale for 6–12 (45.7%), 13–15 (30.43%) and 16–17 (60%) ages, paraplegia (42.4%), tetraplegia (37.1%), incomplete injuries (50%), and T2-T12 (38%) and L1-S4/5 (100%) NL.
Conclusion
Despite limitations in content range, the SCIM-III is reproducible, and a valid indicator of physical functioning in youth with SCI/D 6 years of age and older.
Sponsorship
The study was funded by the Craig H. Neilsen Foundation, Spinal Cord Injury Research on the Translation Spectrum, Senior Research Award Grant #282592 (Mulcahey, PI)
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Acknowledgements
The study was funded by the Craig H. Neilsen Foundation, Spinal Cord Injury Research on the Translation Spectrum, Senior Research Award Grant #282592 (Mulcahey, PI).
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Dr. Mulcahey receives research support from the Shriners Hospitals for Children, National Institute Neurological Disease and Stroke, The Craig H. Neilsen Foundation and The Rick Hansen Institute. She receives compensation for her role as Associate Editor for Topics in Spinal Cord Rehabilitation, royalties for the textbook “The Child and Young Adult with Spinal Cord Injury” and has received compensation as review panel chair/member for the Dept. of Defense and the Craig H. Neilsen Foundation. Dr. Vogel receives compensation for his role as Editor for Topics in Spinal Cord Injury Rehabilitation, royalties for the textbook “The Child and Young Adult with Spinal Cord Injury” and has received compensation as review panel chair/member for the Dept. of Defense. The remaining authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.
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Mulcahey, M., Thielen, C.C., Sadowsky, C. et al. Despite limitations in content range, the SCIM-III is reproducible and a valid indicator of physical function in youths with spinal cord injury and dysfunction. Spinal Cord 56, 332–340 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41393-017-0036-0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41393-017-0036-0
