RehabMeasures Instrument
  1. Rehabilitation Measures Database
  2. Spinal Cord Injury Pressure Ulcer Scale

Spinal Cord Injury Pressure Ulcer Scale

Purpose

The SCIPUS assesses risk for pressure ulcers among SCI patients engaged in rehabilitation.

Link to Instrument

Instrument Details

Acronym SCIPUS

Area of Assessment

General Health

Assessment Type

Observer

Administration Mode

Paper & Pencil

Cost

Free

Diagnosis/Conditions

  • Spinal Cord Injury

Populations

Spinal Injuries

Key Descriptions

  • SCI patients are are assessed on 7 dimensions. Most items are dichotomously scored (0 if absent or 1 to 2 when present). Four items are rated on a 3-point scale based on criteria described on the SCIPUS scoring sheet.
  • 7 Dimensions:
    1) Level of activity
    2) Levels of mobility
    3) Severity of SCI (Complete SCI; Autonomic dysreflexia or severe spacticity)
    4) Urine incontinence or constantly moist
    5) Pre-existing conditions (Age; Tobacco use/smoking; Pulmonary disease; Cardiac disease or blood glucose; Renal disease; Impaired cognitive function)
    6) Residence in a nursing home or hospital
    7) Nutrition (Albumin < 3.4 or total protein  < 6.4; Anemia [hematocrit < 36.0%])

Number of Items

15

Time to Administer

5-10 minutes

Required Training

Training Course

Age Ranges

Child

6 - 12

years

Adolescent

13 - 17

years

Adult

18 - 64

years

Elderly Adult

65 +

years

ICF Domain

Body Function

Measurement Domain

General Health

Considerations

  • The SCIPUS requires a blood tests which may be burdensome for the patient (if not otherwise collected)
  • The SCIPUS was developed exclusively for use with SCI patients
  • Response options for some items are vague

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Spinal Injuries

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Cut-Off Scores

SCI Measures Literature Review: (Mortenson & Miller, 2007)

  • Cutoff > 6 indicates patient is at risk

Construct Validity

SCI Measures Literature Review: (Mortenson & Miller, 2007)

  • Adequate: stage of 1st ulcer during initial hospitalization (r = 0.343)
  • Adequate: number of ulcers during initial hospitalization (r = 0.339)

Bibliography

Mortenson, W. and Miller, W. (2007). "A review of scales for assessing the risk of developing a pressure ulcer in individuals with SCI." Spinal Cord 46(3): 168-175. Find it on PubMed

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