A Twelve-Item Symptom Intensity Rating Scale for Cervical Spine Dysfunction

作者：Davidson Megan^*; De Nardis Robert

来源：Spine, 2011, 36(5): E307-E312.

DOI：10.1097/BRS.0b013e3181f3a007

• neck pain
• symptoms
• questionnaires
• range of motion
• reliability
• validity

Study Design. Retrospective cohort study.
Objective. To evaluate the internal consistency, construct validity, and test-retest reliability of the Symptom Intensity Rating Scale (SIRS) in a clinical sample of people with cervical spine dysfunction.
Summary of Background Data. The SIRS was developed by experienced clinicians at the Melbourne Whiplash Centre as an assessment tool and outcome measure for people with cervical spine dysfunction. The 12-item scale rates the severity of neck, shoulder, shoulder blade and arm pain, neck and arm weakness, headaches dizziness nausea neck stiffness, pins and needles, and numbness.
Methods. Internal consistency was explored by itemitem and corrected item-total correlations, Cronbach alpha, and Principle Components analysis. Construct validity was examined by correlation of SIRS scores with Neck Disability Index (NDI) scores, and with cervical range of motion (ROM). Test-retest reliability was determined by examining a subset of patients with NDI scores that changed by less than 10% points.
Results. A dataset of 397 cases was analyzed. Missing data for the SIRS was very low. Item intercorrelations ranged from weak (<0.3) to moderate (>0.6). Corrected item-total correlations ranged from 0.35 to 0.63. Cronbach alpha was 0.85. Principle Components Analysis identified 2 correlated subscales. SIRS total scores were correlated with NDI scores at initial (r = 0.574) and final (r = 0.757) assessment. Correlations between initial SIRS scores and ROM were absent or weak, and correlations between final SIRS and ROM were stronger. Test-retest reliability Intraclass Correlation Coefficient (2,1) of the SIRS for a subset of 65 cases with unchanged NDI scores was 0.858 (95% CI, 0.766-0.913). The standard error of measurement was 8 points and the Minimum Detectable Change (90% confidence) 18.7 points.
Conclusion. The SIRS is a sufficiently reliable, internally consistent scale that can be used to make valid inferences about symptom severity in ambulatory patients with cervical spine dysfunction.

• 出版日期2011-3-1