title: Overview of the Spinal Cord Injury--Quality of Life (SCI-QOL) measurement system.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The Spinal Cord Injury--Quality of Life (SCI-QOL) measurement system was developed to address the shortage of relevant and psychometrically sound patient reported outcome (PRO) measures available for clinical care and research in spinal cord injury (SCI) rehabilitation. Using a computer adaptive testing (CAT) approach, the SCI-QOL builds on the Patient Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) and the Quality of Life in Neurological Disorders (Neuro-QOL) initiative. This initial manuscript introduces the background and development of the SCI-QOL measurement system. Greater detail is presented in the additional manuscripts of this special issue.
  
  
  METHODS
  Classical and contemporary test development methodologies were employed. Qualitative input was obtained from individuals with SCI and clinicians through interviews, focus groups, and cognitive debriefing. Item pools were field tested in a multi-site sample (n=877) and calibrated using item response theory methods. Initial reliability and validity testing was performed in a new sample of individuals with traumatic SCI (n=245).
  
  
  METHODS
  Five Model SCI System centers and one Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center across the United States.
  
  
  METHODS
  Adults with traumatic SCI.
  
  
  METHODS
  n/a
  
  
  METHODS
  n/a
  
  
  RESULTS
  The SCI-QOL consists of 19 item banks, including the SCI-Functional Index banks, and 3 fixed-length scales measuring physical, emotional, and social aspects of health-related QOL (HRQOL).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The SCI-QOL measurement system consists of psychometrically sound measures for individuals with SCI. The manuscripts in this special issue provide evidence of the reliability and initial validity of this measurement system. The SCI-QOL also links to other measures designed for a general medical population.
authors.forename: David S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Tulsky
authors.forename: Pamela A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Kisala
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Victorson
authors.forename: Denise G
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Tate
authors.forename: Allen W
authors.initials: AW
authors.lastname: Heinemann
authors.forename: Susan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Charlifue
authors.forename: Steve C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Kirshblum
authors.forename: Denise
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Fyffe
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gershon
authors.forename: Ann M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Spungen
authors.forename: Charles H
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Bombardier
authors.forename: Trevor A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Dyson-Hudson
authors.forename: Dagmar
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Amtmann
authors.forename: Claire Z
authors.initials: CZ
authors.lastname: Kalpakjian
authors.forename: Seung W
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Alan M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Jette
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Forchheimer
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Cella
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002138:Calibration; D006801:Humans; D011594:Psychometrics; D011788:Quality of Life; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000145:classification / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires / Q000592:standards; D015599:Trauma Severity Indices
keywords: Computer Adaptive Testing; Health-Related Quality of Life; Item Response Theory; Patient Reported Outcomes; Spinal Cord Injury