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RehabMeasures Instrument

Spinal Cord Injury Pressure Ulcer Scale

Purpose

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

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Instrument Details

Acronym SCIPUS

Area of Assessment

General Health

Assessment Type

Observer

Administration Mode

Paper & Pencil

Cost

Free

Diagnosis/Conditions

  • Spinal Cord Injury

Populations

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.