Development, Content Validity and Reliability of Upper Extremity Functional Skill Measure in C5-C7 Spinal Cord Injury

Cureus, 2023 · DOI: 10.7759/cureus.37599 · Published: April 14, 2023

Spinal Cord Injury Pharmacology Rehabilitation

Simple Explanation

This study aimed to create a tool to objectively measure hand function in people with C5-C7 spinal cord injuries (SCI). The goal was to assess how well individuals with this type of injury can use their hands. The tool, called the Upper Extremity Functional Skill Measure (UEFSM), includes ten items across four areas: grasp, grip, pinch, and gross movement. It was developed based on literature reviews, interviews, and expert opinions. The UEFSM was tested on individuals with C5-C7 SCI to ensure it was reliable and valid. Results showed the tool has good content validity and internal consistency, meaning it accurately measures what it intends to measure and is consistent in its results.

Study Duration

Not specified

Participants

30 subjects with C5-C7 SCI

Evidence Level

Methodological research design

Key Findings

1
The developed UEFSM is a 10-item tool that assesses hand function across four subscales: grasp, grip, pinch, and gross movement.
2
The UEFSM demonstrated good content validity, as confirmed by expert reviews and content validity ratio (CVR) calculations.
3
The tool exhibited good internal consistency reliability, with a Cronbach’s alpha of 0.878, indicating that the items within the UEFSM are consistently measuring the same construct.

Research Summary

This study focused on developing and validating the Upper Extremity Functional Skill Measure (UEFSM), a 10-item tool designed to assess hand function in individuals with C5-C7 spinal cord injury (SCI). The UEFSM evaluates grasp, grip, pinch, and gross movement abilities. The development process involved a thorough literature review, interviews with patients and healthcare professionals, and expert validation to ensure content validity. The tool was then tested on a group of individuals with C5-C7 SCI to assess its reliability. Results indicated that the UEFSM has good content validity and internal consistency reliability, suggesting it is a useful tool for objectively measuring hand function in individuals with C5-C7 SCI in clinical settings.

Practical Implications

Objective Hand Function Assessment

The UEFSM provides clinicians with an objective measure to assess hand function in individuals with C5-C7 SCI, facilitating more accurate and consistent evaluations.

Targeted Rehabilitation Strategies

By identifying specific areas of hand function impairment (grasp, grip, pinch, gross movement), the UEFSM can help tailor rehabilitation strategies to address individual patient needs.

Feasible Clinical Application

The simplicity and ease of administration of the UEFSM make it feasible for use in clinical settings, even those with limited resources, promoting efficient and effective care.

Study Limitations

1
The sample size for the pilot test was not statistically estimated.
2
Further psychometric properties need to be established before widespread clinical use.
3
The tool does not evaluate the underlying neuromuscular physiological changes post-SCI.

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