Development and psychometric evaluation of a self-management ability assessment scale for individuals with spinal cord injury

Objective

The objective of this study was to develop a scale to assess the self-management capability of patients with spinal cord injuries and provide an evaluation tool for implementing targeted interventions.

Methods

Drawing upon the Integrated Theory of Health Behavior Change (ITHBC) and the International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health (ICF) framework, an initial version of the Spinal Cord Injury Patient Self-Management Capability Assessment Scale was developed through literature analysis, semi-structured interviews, and expert inquiry using the Delphi method. Subsequently, two rounds of inquiries were conducted with a panel of 20 experts to refine items in the scale based on the feedback obtained.

Results

The two rounds of expert inquiry questionnaires yielded an effective recovery rate of 100%, with expert authority coefficients for the two rounds of inquiries being 0.925 and 0.940, respectively. Kendall’s coefficient of concordance for the two rounds was 0.200 and 0.317, respectively. The finalized 54-item Spinal Cord Injury Patient Self-Management Capability Assessment Scale developed in this study comprises five dimensions: disease knowledge management, daily behavior management, social-psychological management, information and resource management, and rehabilitation exercise.

Conclusion

A Spinal Cord Injury Patient Self-Management Capability Assessment Scale was developed based on the Delphi method. It may be used to evaluate the level of self-management capability of patients with spinal cord injuries but warrants further empirical verification.