@article{MaritzPongpipatpaiboonMelvinetal.2019, author = {Maritz, R. and Pongpipatpaiboon, K. and Melvin, J.L. and Graves, D.E. and Prodinger, Birgit}, title = {Content comparison of the Spinal Cord Injury Model System Database to the ICF Generic Sets and Core Sets for spinal cord injury}, series = {Spinal Cord}, volume = {57}, journal = {Spinal Cord}, number = {12}, pages = {1023 -- 1030}, year = {2019}, abstract = {Study design Mapping of the National Spinal Cord Injury Model System (SCIMS) Database (NSCID) to the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF). Objectives To link the content of the latest two versions of the NSCID to the ICF; more specifically (1) to compare the content of the current NSCID 2016-2021 version to its predecessor (NSCID 2011-2016) using the ICF as a neutral reference framework, and (2) to compare the content contained in the NSCID 2016-2021 version with relevant ICF Sets. Setting The forms of the NSCID 2016-2021 and 2011-2016 versions were linked to the ICF and contrasted. Comparability of the current version of the NSCID with the ICF Core Set for Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) in the post-acute and long-term context and the two generic ICF sets— ICF Generic-7 and ICF Generic-30 was then examined. Methods ICF Linking Rules and descriptive statistics. Results The current NSCID 2016-2021 version covers functioning as classified in the ICF with 8 ICF categories more comprehensively than its predecessor does. More than 50\% of ICF categories contained in the two ICF Generic Sets were covered. The coverage of the brief ICF Core Sets for SCI by the NSCID 2016-2021 was more than 50\%, but the coverage of the comprehensive core sets was low. Results showed the best coverage in the ICF component Activities and Participation. Conclusions This study emphasizes how the ICF and its Sets can serve as a reference framework to foster comparability of existing data sets from both clinical practice and research.}, language = {en} } @article{HinrichsProdingerBrinkofetal.2016, author = {Hinrichs, T. and Prodinger, Birgit and Brinkof, M.W. and Gemperli, A.}, title = {Subgroups in epidemiological studies on spinal cord injury: Evaluation of international recommendations in the Swiss Spinal Cord Injury Cohort Study}, series = {Journal of Rehabilitation Medicine}, volume = {48}, journal = {Journal of Rehabilitation Medicine}, number = {2}, pages = {141 -- 148}, year = {2016}, abstract = {Objective: To test subgroups of a community-based sample of individuals with spinal cord injury, categorized by the application of current recommendations by the International Spinal Cord Society. Design: Community survey. Participants: Individuals with traumatic and non-traumatic spinal cord injury residing in Switzerland. Methods: Recommended subgroups of age, gender, years since injury, severity of injury and aetiology were tested against the following criteria: (i) distribution of participants across categories; (ii) within- and between-group variability with regard to selected outcomes of functioning and quality of life. Results: Data-sets for 1,549 participants (28.5\% women; mean age 52 ± 15 years) were available for analyses. There was a number of participants in every subgroup, yet numbers were relatively small in the group with the shortest time since injury (< 1 year; n = 23) and in the oldest age group (≥76; n = 94). A high variability in some outcomes was detected between categories. All variables were predictive for most of the endpoints investigated. Conclusion: Recommended categorization could well fit the present sample. A minor concern was the low numbers of participants in some subgroups.}, language = {en} } @article{ProdingerBallertBrinkofetal.2016, author = {Prodinger, Birgit and Ballert, C.S. and Brinkof, M. W. G. and Tennant, A. and Post, M. W. M.}, title = {Metric properties of the Spinal Cord Independence Measure - Self Report in a community survey}, series = {Journal of Rehabilitation Medicine}, volume = {48}, journal = {Journal of Rehabilitation Medicine}, number = {2}, pages = {149 -- 164}, year = {2016}, abstract = {Objective: The Spinal Cord Independence Measure - Self Report (SCIM-SR) is a self-report instrument for assessing functional independence of persons with spinal cord injury. This study examined the internal construct validity and reliability of the SCIM-SR, when administered in a community survey, using the Rasch measurement model. Methods: Rasch analysis of data from 1,549 individuals with spinal cord injury who completed the SCIM-SR. Results: In the initial analysis no fit to the Rasch model was achieved. Items were grouped into testlets to accommodate the substantial local dependency. Due to the differential item functioning for lesion level and degree, spinal cord injury-specific sub-group analyses were conducted. Fit to the Rasch model was then achieved for individuals with tetraplegia and complete paraplegia, but not for those with incomplete paraplegia. Comparability of ability estimates across sub-groups was attained by anchoring all sub-groups on a testlet. Conclusion: The SCIM-SR violates certain assumptions of the Rasch measurement model, as shown by the local dependency and differential item functioning. However, an intermediate solution to achieve fit in 3 out of 4 spinal cord injury sub-groups was found. For the time being, therefore, it advisable to use this approach to compute Rasch-transformed SCIM-SR scores.}, language = {en} }