Reliability of the Catz-Itzkovich Spinal Cord Independence Measure assessment by interview and comparison with observation.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the reliability of assessment with the Catz-Itzkovich Spinal Cord Independence Measure II (SCIM II) by interview and compare the findings with assessment by observation.


METHODS
In a cohort, comparative study, 28 inpatients with spinal cord lesions were assessed by two nurses using the Catz-Itzkovich SCIM II (interview) and by a multidisciplinary team (observation).


RESULTS
Total agreement between interviewers ranged from 50% to 80% (Kappa coefficients 0.40-0.60). Pearson's coefficients of the correlation between scores obtained for the various SCIM subscales by interview or observation were 0.765-0.940 (P < 0.0001). The differences in mean scores obtained between the interview and observation methods were small and not statistically significant for most of the subscales.


CONCLUSIONS
The results support the reliability of the Catz-Itzkovich SCIM assessment by interview and show it to be comparable with assessment by observation. The SCIM II interview may serve as an accurate measure of daily function in patients with spinal cord injury. However, with the sample of the study being relatively small, a larger scale examination is needed to generalize the results.
Itzkovich
Malka
M
Loewenstein Rehabilitation Hospital, Raanana, Israel.
Tamir
Ada
A
Philo
Ora
O
Steinberg
Flavia
F
Ronen
Jacob
J
Spasser
Raluca
R
Gepstein
Reuven
R
Ring
Haim
H
Catz
Amiram
A
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019370:Observation / Q000379:methods; D015588:Observer Variation; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000145:classification* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires