Self-reported functional status among spinal cord injury patients using the spinal cord independence measures III: Integrative literature review

Abstract

Increasing attention to engaging spinal cord injury (SCI) patients with their rehabilitation entails self-assessment of their functional status. The Spinal Cord Independence Measures Self-Report (SCIM-SR) was specifically developed to allow individuals with SCI to assess their functional status and report improvements or deficits. This review was done as a preliminary phase to examine the development process of the SCIM-SR and assess the advantages of using the SCI self-reported functional status measure in Qatar. An integrative literature review was conducted using Whittemore and Knafl’s framework, searching three databases: CINAHL, Embase, and Medline. The initial search yielded 793 articles published between 2010 and 2022. After further evaluation of the literature, 12 articles were included in the subsequent analysis. This integrative literature review identified two major themes: SCIM-SR tool development and the advantages of using SCIM-SR. Tool development involved tool translation, language and cultural adaptation, and psychometric testing. Reported advantages included increased patient engagement, independence and convenience. This integrative review identified the required processes for translation, language and culture adaptation, and psychometric testing to facilitate the adoption of SCIM-SR in Qatar. To develop an Arabic version of the SCIM-SR, following a specific guideline as described in this integrative review is recommended. Before implementing the Arabic SCIM-SR tool, it is critical to evaluate its validity and reliability.