title: Rehabilitation Complexity Scale: Italian translation and transcultural validation.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the present study was translation, cultural adaption and validation of the extended version 12 of the Rehabilitation Complexity Scale (RCS-E) in a sample of patients with stroke and total hip replacement.
  
  
  METHODS
  The cross-cultural validation required RCS-E forward-backward translation, revision by an expert committee and its application in an Intensive Rehabilitation setting through a retrospective collection of data from clinical records. The evaluation of the psychometric properties was carried out by analyzing the correlations between RCS-E score and other measures (Functional Independence Measure, Braden, Morse, Cumulative Illness Rating Scale) and the assessment of reliability in terms of reproducibility (inter-observer agreement) and repeatability (intra-observer agreement).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The backward and forward processes of translation of the scale did not create problems of interpretation of terms. Some adaptation was required for the items nursing (N), medical care (M) and therapeutic intensity (TI) due to differences on the national health system structure. The Italian version of the scale proved to be valid, reliable with high reproducibility and repeatability.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The Italian version RCS-E has been successfully validated, showing good psychometric properties, which partly reproduce the results obtained for the original version. However, some assumption was made for some items thus preventing possible comparison with other countries.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Admittance at an Intensive Rehabilitation care setting in Italy requires to evaluate the complexity of rehabilitation needs. The Rehabilitation Complexity Scale (RCS-E) has proved to be reliable for assessing clinical complexity and consequently for planning rehabilitation needs. The Italian version of RCS-E has been successfully validated, showing good psychometric properties, which reproduce the results obtained for the original version. The items included in the therapy intensity subscale do not fit the Italian health system rules for intensity of rehabilitation care and needs adaptation.
authors: a Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Unit, San Giovanni in Persiceto , Bologna , Italy .
authors: Lisa
authors: L
authors: Galletti
authors: b Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Unit, Istituto Ortopedico Rizzoli , Bologna , Italy .
authors: Maria Grazia
authors: MG
authors: Benedetti
authors: b Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Unit, Istituto Ortopedico Rizzoli , Bologna , Italy .
authors: Serena
authors: S
authors: Maselli
authors: c GLOBE & Cochrane MSG, University of Ferrara , Ferrara , Italy , and.
authors: Gustavo
authors: G
authors: Zanoli
authors: d Department of Statistical Science "Paolo Fortunati" , University of Bologna , Bologna , Italy.
authors: Elettra
authors: E
authors: Pignotti
authors: a Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Unit, San Giovanni in Persiceto , Bologna , Italy .
authors: Roberto
authors: R
authors: Iovine
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D019644:Arthroplasty, Replacement, Hip / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D003431:Cross-Cultural Comparison; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D007802:Language; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011594:Psychometrics / Q000379:methods*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D000071939:Stroke Rehabilitation; D014177:Translations
keywords: Italian validation; Rehabilitation Complexity Scale; needs assessment; psychometric properties