Rasch analysis of alcohol abuse and dependence diagnostic criteria in persons with spinal cord injury

Background A paucity of information exists on the psychometric properties of several balance outcome measures. With the exception of the Modified Functional Reach Test, none of these balance outcome measures were developed specifically for the population with spinal cord injury (SCI). A new balance assessment tool for people with SCI, the Activity-based Balance Level Evaluation (ABLE scale), was developed and tested. Objective The purposes of this study were: (1) to develop a scale capturing the wide spectrum of functional ability following SCI and (2) to assess the initial psychometric properties of the scale using a Rasch analysis. Design A methodological research design was used to test the initial psychometric properties of the ABLE scale. Methods The Delphi technique was used to establish the original 28-item ABLE scale. People with SCI at each of 4 centers (n=104) were evaluated using the ABLE scale. A Rasch analysis was conducted to test for targeting, item difficulty, item bias, and unidimensionality. An analysis of variance was completed to test for discriminant validity. Results The Rasch analysis revealed a scale with minimal floor and ceiling effects and a wide range of item difficulty capturing the large scope of functional capacity after SCI. Multiple redundancies of item difficulty were observed. Limitations All raters were experienced physical therapists, which may have skewed the results. The sample size of 104 participants precluded a principal component analysis. Conclusion Development of an all-inclusive clinical instrument assessing balance in the SCI population was accomplished using the Delphi technique. Modifications of the ABLE scale based on the Rasch analysis yielded a 28-item scale with minimal floor or ceiling effects. Larger studies using the revised scale and factor analyses are necessary to establish unidimensionality and reduction of the total item number.

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Using a Mobile App-Based International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health Set to Assess the Functioning of Spinal Cord Injury Patients: Rasch Analysis

JMIR mhealth and uhealth ◽

10.2196/20723 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 8 (11) ◽

pp. e20723

Author(s):

Mengmeng Jia ◽

Jie Tang ◽

Sumei Xie ◽

Xiaokuo He ◽

Yingmin Wang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Spinal Cord ◽

Spinal Cord Injury ◽

Rasch Model ◽

Rasch Analysis ◽

International Classification ◽

International Classification Of Functioning ◽

Disability And Health ◽

Cord Injury ◽

The Rasch Model

Background The International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health (ICF) is a unified system of functioning terminology that has been used to develop electronic health records and assessment instruments. Its application has been limited, however, by its complex terminology, numerous categories, uncertain operationalization, and the training required to use it well. Together is a mobile health app designed to extend medical support to the families of spinal cord injury (SCI) patients in China. The app’s core framework is a set of only 31 ICF categories. The app also provides rating guidelines and automatically transforms routine assessment results to the terms of the ICF qualifiers. Objective The goal of the research is to examine the suitability of the ICF set used in the app Together for use as an instrument for assessing the functioning of SCI patients. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted including 112 SCI patients recruited before discharge from four rehabilitation centers in China between May 2018 and October 2019. Nurses used the app to assess patient functioning in face-to-face interviews. The resulting data were then subjected to Rasch analysis. Results After deleting two categories (family relationships and socializing) and one personal factor (knowledge about spinal cord injury) that did not fit the Rasch model, the body functions and body structures, activities and participation, and contextual factors components of the ICF exhibited adequate fit to the Rasch model. All three demonstrated acceptable person separation indices. The 28 categories retained in the set were free of differential item functioning by gender, age, education level, or etiology. Conclusions Together overcomes some of the obstacles to practical application of the ICF. The app is a reliable assessment tool for assessing functioning after spinal cord injury.

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Measuring posttraumatic growth and depreciation after spinal cord injury: A Rasch analysis.

Rehabilitation Psychology ◽

10.1037/rep0000288 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 64 (4) ◽

pp. 407-424 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Simon Kunz ◽

Carolina Fellinghauer ◽

Claudio Peter

Keyword(s):

Spinal Cord ◽

Spinal Cord Injury ◽

Posttraumatic Growth ◽

Rasch Analysis ◽

Cord Injury

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Alcohol abuse history and adjustment following spinal cord injury.

Rehabilitation Psychology ◽

10.1037/0090-5550.47.3.278 ◽

2002 ◽

Vol 47 (3) ◽

pp. 278-290 ◽

Cited By ~ 28

Author(s):

Timothy R. Elliot ◽

Monica Kurylo ◽

Yuying Chen ◽

Bret Hicken

Keyword(s):

Spinal Cord ◽

Spinal Cord Injury ◽

Alcohol Abuse ◽

Abuse History ◽

Cord Injury

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Rasch analysis of the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale in spinal cord injury.

Rehabilitation Psychology ◽

10.1037/a0029287 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 57 (3) ◽

pp. 214-223 ◽

Cited By ~ 14

Author(s):

Rachel Müller ◽

Alarcos Cieza ◽

Szilvia Geyh

Keyword(s):

Spinal Cord ◽

Spinal Cord Injury ◽

Rasch Analysis ◽

Depression Scale ◽

Anxiety And Depression ◽

Hospital Anxiety ◽

Cord Injury

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Using a Mobile App-Based International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health Set to Assess the Functioning of Spinal Cord Injury Patients: Rasch Analysis (Preprint)

10.2196/preprints.20723 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Mengmeng Jia ◽

Jie Tang ◽

Sumei Xie ◽

Xiaokuo He ◽

Yingmin Wang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Spinal Cord ◽

Spinal Cord Injury ◽

Rasch Model ◽

Rasch Analysis ◽

International Classification ◽

International Classification Of Functioning ◽

Disability And Health ◽

Cord Injury ◽

The Rasch Model

BACKGROUND The International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health (ICF) is a unified system of functioning terminology that has been used to develop electronic health records and assessment instruments. Its application has been limited, however, by its complex terminology, numerous categories, uncertain operationalization, and the training required to use it well. Together is a mobile health app designed to extend medical support to the families of spinal cord injury (SCI) patients in China. The app’s core framework is a set of only 31 ICF categories. The app also provides rating guidelines and automatically transforms routine assessment results to the terms of the ICF qualifiers. OBJECTIVE The goal of the research is to examine the suitability of the ICF set used in the app Together for use as an instrument for assessing the functioning of SCI patients. METHODS A cross-sectional study was conducted including 112 SCI patients recruited before discharge from four rehabilitation centers in China between May 2018 and October 2019. Nurses used the app to assess patient functioning in face-to-face interviews. The resulting data were then subjected to Rasch analysis. RESULTS After deleting two categories (family relationships and socializing) and one personal factor (knowledge about spinal cord injury) that did not fit the Rasch model, the body functions and body structures, activities and participation, and contextual factors components of the ICF exhibited adequate fit to the Rasch model. All three demonstrated acceptable person separation indices. The 28 categories retained in the set were free of differential item functioning by gender, age, education level, or etiology. CONCLUSIONS Together overcomes some of the obstacles to practical application of the ICF. The app is a reliable assessment tool for assessing functioning after spinal cord injury.

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