Article

OBJECTIVE: To examine the metric properties of the Utrecht Scale for Evaluation
of Rehabilitation-Participation (USER-Participation) in persons with spinal cord
injury in Switzerland from a classical and item response theory perspective.
DESIGN: Cross-sectional survey. SUBJECTS: Persons with spinal cord injury living
in the Swiss community
(n = 1,549). METHODS: Score distributions and internal
consistency were evaluated using Classical Test Theory.
The Restrictions and
Satisfaction scales were subjected to Rasch analysis. Anchored analyses were
performed to account appropriately for items with structural missing. RESULTS:
Internal consistency was good for the Restrictions (alpha = 0.90) and
Satisfaction scales (alpha = 0.90), but not for the Frequency scale (alpha =
0.65). Rasch analyses showed acceptable model fit for the Restrictions and
Satisfaction scales after collapsing response categories of some items and
merging some items into testlets. Differential item functioning was small.
Anchoring allowed inclusion of the item work/education in the Restrictions scale
and work/education and/or partner relationship in the Satisfaction scale.
CONCLUSION: The Restrictions and Satisfaction scales of the USER-Participation
showed satisfactory metric properties. The Frequency scale showed fewer optimal
properties, but nonetheless provides important additional information regarding
participation. Conversion tables were performed to transform USER-Participation
raw scores into a 0-100 interval scale using Rasch-based ability estimates for
use in epidemiological studies.

Langue : ANGLAIS