Test-retest reliability at the item level and total score level of the Norwegian version of the Spinal Cord Injury Falls Concern Scale (SCI-FCS)

The Journal of Spinal Cord Medicine, 2016 · DOI: 10.1080/10790268.2015.1119965 · Published: May 1, 2016

Simple Explanation

This study translated and adapted the Spinal Cord Injury Falls Concern Scale (SCI-FCS) into Norwegian to assess its reliability in individuals with spinal cord injuries who use wheelchairs. The SCI-FCS is a questionnaire that measures how concerned wheelchair users are about falling in various daily activities. The Norwegian version of the SCI-FCS demonstrated high reliability, suggesting it is a consistent and trustworthy tool for measuring fall concerns in this population.

Study Duration

September 2012 through January 2013

Participants

54 wheelchair users with a spinal cord injury

Evidence Level

Not specified

Key Findings

1
All items showed satisfactory percentage agreement (≥69%) between test and retest, indicating good consistency in responses.
2
The test-retest agreement (ICC2.1) was excellent (0.83), demonstrating high reliability of the total scores over time.
3
There was a floor effect on the item-level score since 30% or more of the individuals scored the lowest item score (1) on both occasions.

Research Summary

This study aimed to translate and validate the Spinal Cord Injury Falls Concern Scale (SCI-FCS) for use in a Norwegian-speaking population of wheelchair users with spinal cord injuries. The translated version demonstrated high test-retest reliability, suggesting it is a reliable tool for measuring fall concerns in this population. The findings support the use of the Norwegian SCI-FCS in clinical and research settings to assess and address fall-related concerns among wheelchair users with SCI.

Practical Implications

Clinical Assessment

The Norwegian SCI-FCS can be used to identify levels of fall concerns in relation to specific activities.

Intervention Development

The SCI-FCS can be used to develop tailored interventions that address excessive fall concerns to hopefully maximize mobility, independence, and community participation.

Goal Setting

The SCI-FCS can also be used to set activity goals for individuals, prevent falls in specific situations, and encourage mastery of SCI-FCS activities

Study Limitations

1
The study included people in the chronic stage after SCI (>1 year after injury), limiting applicability to people with acute SCI.
2
The study population was recruited from individuals who routinely stayed for regular follow-up at Sunnaas Rehabilitation Hospital, which may not be representative of the Norwegian SCI population.
3
Participants self-administered the Norwegian SCI-FCS, which may introduce potential biases compared to interviewer-administered tests.

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