The purpose of this study is twofold: (1) Develop a new evaluation scale for mental body representations (MBR, i.e., body awareness and visuospatial body maps) for adults with spinal cord injury (SCI) with and without neuropathic pain. (2) Assess the psychometric properties of usability, reliability, and validity of the new evaluation scale This is a cross-sectional observational study design. For Aim 1, this study will involve initial item generation for a novel MBR evaluation scale for SCI through email communication, and individual interviews proctored remotely through Zoom, or, if preferred by the participant, in-person. For Aim 2, the study will include a Zoom call for consenting and questionnaires, as well as an in-person visit where participants will be tested with the new SCI-BodyMap evaluation scale, and a questionnaire asking about the usability and satisfaction of the new evaluation scale.
Study Type
OBSERVATIONAL
Enrollment
80
This is an observational study
University of Minnesota
Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States
RECRUITINGReliability of the scale
Inter-rater reliability of the new SCI-BodyMap scale (scores from two physical or occupational therapists testing the same participants) will be evaluated with Kappa and ICC.
Time frame: 1 week
Validity of the scale
Convergent validity of the newly developed SCI-BodyMap scale for SCI will be tested with Spearman rho correlations between the new MBR scale and the Revised Body awareness scale, Multidimensional Assessment lnteroceptive Awareness-2 (MAIA- 2), lowest, average and highest neuropathic pain levels with the Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS), and the NINOS-COE SCI Functional lndex/Assistive Technology Scale (SCI/Fl-AT).
Time frame: 1 week
establish the minimal detectable difference (MDD)
The Minimal Detectable Difference (MOD) will be calculated using the standard error of measurement.
Time frame: 1 week
QQ-10 scale, to assess the usability of the new MBR scale.
This will be complemented by open-ended questions about the scale from the point of view of the participant with SCI and the therapists who evaluated the participant with the new scale.
Time frame: 1 week
SCI-related symptoms (Penn Spasm Frequency Scale
We will assess the frequency and severity of spasms (Penn Spasm Frequency Scale),
Time frame: 1 week
SCI-related symptoms (BARQ-R)
We will assess body awareness related to the participant's perception of tension in the body (BARQ-R)
Time frame: 1 week
SCI-related symptoms (MAIA-2)
We will assess interoceptive awareness (MAIA-2).
Time frame: 1 week
Physical functioning.
We will measure function related to basic mobility, self-care, fine motor function, and ambulation (NINOS-COE SCI/Fl-AT)
Time frame: 1 week
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