Spinal cord injury -- function index/assistive technology short forms

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Study evaluated the psychometric properties of the Spinal Cord Injury-Functional Index/Assistive Technology (SCI-FI/AT) short forms (SFs) in the domains of basic mobility, self-care, fine motor function, and ambulation based on internal consistency, with specific SFs for people with paraplegia and tetraplegia. The study also examined correlations between SFs and full item banks, and a 10-item computerized adaptive test (CAT) version; the magnitude of ceiling and floor effects; and measurement precision across a broad range of function in adults with spinal cord injury (SCI). Data obtained from 460 adults with traumatic SCI from 9 national SCI Model Systems programs stratified by level of injury (paraplegia/tetraplegia), completeness of injury, and time since SCI included: SCI-FI/AT full item bank, 10-item CAT, and SFs (with separate Self-Care and Fine Motor Function SFs for subjects with tetraplegia and paraplegia). Results show that the SCI-FI/AT SFs demonstrated very good internal consistency, group-level reliability, and excellent correlations between SFs and scores based on the CAT version and the total item bank. Ceiling and floor effects are acceptable (except for unacceptable ceiling effects for persons with paraplegia on the Self-Care and Fine Motor Function SFs). The test information functions are excellent across a broad range of functioning typical of people with paraplegia and tetraplegia. Clinicians and researchers should consider using the SCI-FI/AT SFs to assess functioning with the use of assistive technology when CAT applications are not available

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