Internal consistency and responsiveness of the Skin Management Needs Assessment Checklist post-spinal cord injury.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the internal consistency and sensitivity to change of the Skin Management needs assessment checklist (SMnac), a measure specifically developed for the spinal cord injury (SCI) population to assess skin management ability and equip individuals with the skills they need to prevent pressure ulcer development.


METHODS
Consecutive series, psychometric evaluation study.


METHODS
Spinal Cord Injuries Rehabilitation Unit, United Kingdom.


METHODS
317 participants with traumatic or nontraumatic SCI.


METHODS
This study used the SMnac, which assesses the ability to perform skin checking, pressure relief, and the prevention of skin insults based on the individual's perception of his or her ability to independently undertake skin management activities.


RESULTS
Assessment of internal consistency produced a Cronbach's alpha for this scale of 0.85. A paired-samples t test was used to evaluate the SMnac's sensitivity to change. There was a significant difference between the first and second SMnac scores (t = - 24.38, df = 186, P < 0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
The SMnac has high internal consistency and sensitivity to change. The SMnac provides constructive assessment of skin management, specifying problems for individuals with SCI, standardizing the critical inputs required to meet rehabilitation targets, and measuring the effects of those inputs and their relationship to other mediating variables and expected outcome.
Berry
Christopher
C
Department of Clinical Psychology, The National Spinal Injuries Centre, Stoke Mandeville Hospital, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, United Kingdom.
Kennedy
Paul
P
Hindson
Lynne M
LM
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020380:Needs Assessment / Q000592:standards*; D010264:Paraplegia / Q000150:complications / Q000209:etiology; D003668:Pressure Ulcer / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D011782:Quadriplegia / Q000150:complications / Q000209:etiology; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000150:complications*