Atomized Content
Purpose
The PARA-SCI was developed to measure physical activity (type, frequency, intensity, duration) in individuals with either paraplegia or tetraplegia who use a wheelchair for primary means of mobility. Instrument was developed as there was a gap for measuring this type of data in people with SCI; many of the general measures of physical activity for SCI have items that are not applicable and, generally do not measure intensity for people with disabilities.
Acronym
PARA-SCI
Area of Assessment
Activities of Daily Living
Assessment Type
Patient Reported Outcomes
Cost
Free
- The PARA-SCI is a self-reported measure, conducted via interview, designed to capture information about leisure time activity, lifestyle activity (activities part of a daily routine), and the combination of the two over a 3 day period.
- Participants are questioned about their activities in 8 different categories, 2 of which have 5 sub categories.
- Individuals are asked about their activity over the previous 3 days, starting with prior day. Activity is broken down into 8 periods:
1) Morning routine (subdivided into transferring, bowel and bladder management, bathing, personal hygiene, dressing)
2) Breakfast
3) Morning
4) Lunch
5) Afternoon
6) Dinner
7) Evening
8) Evening Routine (subdivided into transferring, bowel and bladder management, bathing, personal hygiene, dressing)
- Interviewer uses a flow chart to ask questions and follow up questions based on yes/no responses.
- Interviewer records number of minutes of activity and codes the activity as leisure or lifestyle. Participants rank activity’s intensity as mild, moderate, heavy, or nothing based on the instrument's classification system (see Martin Ginis, 2005).
- Number of minutes is recorded for activities in each category:
1) mild
2) moderate
3) heavy
4) nothing at all
20-30 minutes
Average of 20-30 minutes for individual to complete, plus instruction time from the tester to review instrument and intensity definitions (Martin Ginis 2005).
Required Training
Training Course
Instrument Reviewers
Intially reviewed by Jennifer H. Kahn, PT, DPT, NCS, Candy Tefertiller, PT, DPT, ATP, NCS, and the SCI EDGE task force of the Neurology Section of the APTA in 4/2012.
ICF Domain
Activity
Participation
Measurement Domain
Motor
Professional Association Recommendation
Recommendations for use of the instrument from the Neurology Section of the American Physical Therapy Association’s Multiple Sclerosis Taskforce (MSEDGE), Parkinson’s Taskforce (PD EDGE), Spinal Cord Injury Taskforce (PD EDGE), Stroke Taskforce (StrokEDGE), Traumatic Brain Injury Taskforce (TBI EDGE), and Vestibular Taskforce (Vestibular EDGE) are listed below. These recommendations were developed by a panel of research and clinical experts using a modified Delphi process.
For detailed information about how recommendations were made, please visit: http://www.neuropt.org/go/healthcare-professionals/neurology-section-outcome-measures-recommendations
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Abbreviations:
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HR
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Highly Recommend
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R
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Recommend
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LS / UR
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Reasonable to use, but limited study in target group / Unable to Recommend
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NR
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Not Recommended
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Recommendations for use based on acuity level of the patient:
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Acute
(CVA < 2 months post)
(SCI < 1 month post)
(Vestibular < 6 weeks post)
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Subacute
(CVA 2 to 6 months)
(SCI 3 to 6 months)
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Chronic
(> 6 months)
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SCI EDGE
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NR
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LS
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LS
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Recommendations based on SCI AIS Classification:
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AIS A/B
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AIS C/D
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SCI EDGE
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LS
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LS
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Recommendations for entry-level physical therapy education and use in research:
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Students should learn to administer this tool? (Y/N)
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Students should be exposed to tool? (Y/N)
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Appropriate for use in intervention research studies? (Y/N)
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Is additional research warranted for this tool (Y/N)
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SCI EDGE
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No
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No
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No
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Not reported
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Considerations
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The PARA-SCI has good construct validity when evaluated using other measures of physical activity, particularly the day-long measure of oxygen consumption (see data under "Criterion Validity").
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There was good evidence of validity and reliability for the total activity and leisure-time physical activity sub-scales. However, the lifestyle activity subscale could not be validated and the authors do not recommend its use as a standalone measure.
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