The Moss Attention Rating Scale for traumatic brain injury: initial psychometric assessment.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the psychometric properties of the Moss Attention Rating Scale (MARS), a new observational rating scale for attention-related behaviors in traumatic brain injury (TBI).


METHODS
Prospective observational study.


METHODS
Eight acute inpatient rehabilitation facilities that are part of the Traumatic Brain Injury Model Systems program.


METHODS
Two hundred twenty-eight patients with TBI requiring acute inpatient rehabilitation treatment.


METHODS
Not applicable.


METHODS
Rasch analysis on the 53-item MARS (45 attention items, 8 control items) as rated separately by the treating occupational therapist and physical therapist.


RESULTS
The MARS appeared to measure a single dimension and demonstrated good person separation (5.69) and reliability (.97). In post hoc assessment, misfitting attention items may not have required attention and control items that fit the dimension may have required at least rudimentary attention. Occupational therapists rated patients as slightly less attentive than did physical therapists. Overall, the scale was well targeted to an acute inpatient rehabilitation population.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results provide preliminary support for the viability of developing an observational attention rating scale for use in inpatient TBI rehabilitation. Further research will need to explore the existence of subdimensions and provide further validation with reference to other neuropsychologic measures of attention and knowledge of lesion severity and localization.
Whyte
John
J
Moss Rehabilitation Research Institute, Philadelphia, PA 19141, USA. jwhyte@einstein.edu
Hart
Tessa
T
Bode
Rita K
RK
Malec
James F
JF
D000328:Adult; D001288:Attention; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D005260:Female; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011594:Psychometrics