Accuracy of self-reported severity and level of spinal cord injury
Publications
Model System:
SCI
Reference Type:
Journal article
Accession No.:
J90277
Journal:
Spinal Cord (formerly Paraplegia)
Year, Volume, Issue, Page(s):
, 60, 10, 934-941
Publication Website:
Abstract:
Study assessed the accuracy of self-reported level of injury (LOI) and severity in individuals with chronic spinal cord injury (SCI) as compared with clinical examination. Twenty-eight individuals with SCI completed a 20-item survey that evaluated demographics, physical abilities, and self-reported injury level and severity. A decision-tree algorithm used responses to categorize participants into injury severity groups. Following the survey, participants underwent clinical examination to determine current injury level and severity. Participants were later asked three questions regarding S1 sparing. Chart abstraction was utilized to obtain initial injury level and severity. Injury level and severity from self-report, decision tree, clinical exam, and chart abstraction were compared. Ninety-three percent of participants correctly self-reported anatomical region of injury (ROI). Self-report of specific LOI matched current clinical LOI for 25 percent of participants but matched initial LOI for 61 percent. Self-report of ASIA Impairment Scale (AIS) matched clinical AIS for 36 percent but matched initial AIS for 46 percent. The injury severity decision tree was 75 percent accurate without, but 79 percent accurate with additional S1 questions. Self-report of deep anal pressure was correct for 86 percent of participants, while self-report of voluntary anal contraction (VAC) was correct for 82 percent. Findings suggest that individuals with SCI are more accurate reporting ROI than specific LOI. Self-reported injury level and severity align more closely with initial clinical examination results than current exam results. Using aggregate data from multiple questions can categorize injury severity more reliably than self-report.
