Browse the latest research summaries in the field of research methodology & design for spinal cord injury patients and caregivers.
Showing 511-520 of 702 results
Spinal Cord, 2018 • April 27, 2018
This review identifies important concepts in lower extremity (LE) assessment with a focus on locomotor outcomes and provide guidance on how existing outcome measurement tools may be best used to asses...
KEY FINDING: There are sensitive, accurate, and responsive outcome tools available for measuring quantitative and qualitative aspects of LE function in SCI patients.
Spinal Cord Series and Cases, 2017 • August 10, 2017
The International SCI Male Sexual Function Basic Data Set Version 2.0 and the International SCI Female Sexual and Reproductive Function Basic Data Set Version 2.0 were developed and their differences ...
KEY FINDING: The data sets were modified to a self-report format to avoid confusion in interpretation and data collection.
AJNR Am J Neuroradiol, 2017 • October 1, 2017
This study evaluated the test-retest and interreader reproducibility of semiautomated atlas-based segmentation of DTI of the cervical spinal cord in patients with acute trauma. Atlas-based parcellatio...
KEY FINDING: Test-retest reproducibility of fractional anisotropy was high for white matter as a whole (coefficient of variation, 3.8%; intraclass correlation coefficient, 0.93).
Lifetime Data Anal, 2018 • July 1, 2018
This paper introduces a semi-parametric method for estimating conditional state occupation probabilities in multistate models with right-censored data, using inverse censoring probability re-weighting...
KEY FINDING: The proposed method demonstrates reasonable performance, with a clear decline in the error rate as the sample size increases for all types of censoring and rates.
BMJ Open, 2017 • July 4, 2017
This qualitative study explored how intermittent catheter (IC) users perceive, describe, and manage urinary tract infections (UTIs). The study revealed that IC users often use different terms than med...
KEY FINDING: IC users describe UTI signs and symptoms using informal terms that often differ from standard medical terminology, such as the NIDRR symptom list.
Spinal Cord Series and Cases, 2017 • September 7, 2017
This study analyzes outcomes of post-acute spinal cord injury specialized rehabilitation (SCISR) in Germany, finding that early admission to SCISR and longer rehabilitation stays increase the chance f...
KEY FINDING: Higher values in SCIMstart and LOSreha increase the chance for an SCIMend ⩾50 points, whereas higher values in LOSacute reduce the possibility to reach an SCIMend ⩾50 points.
Spinal Cord, 2018 • January 1, 2018
This study generated the SCI_ADL measure using existing data from the SCI Longitudinal Aging Study to assess self-care abilities of individuals with SCI over a 20-year period. The SCI_ADL measure demo...
KEY FINDING: The SCI_ADL measure showed good reliability and could detect changes in self-care function over a 20-year period.
JOURNAL OF NEUROTRAUMA, 2018 • April 1, 2018
The paper critically appraises a 2014 Cochrane review on intermittent catheterization, which concluded that there was no convincing evidence that UTI incidence is affected by catheterization technique...
KEY FINDING: The authors identified concerns with the Cochrane review related to data selection, extraction, symptomatic UTI definition, and data analysis.
Global Spine Journal, 2017 • March 31, 2017
The objective of this study was to conduct a systematic review of the literature to address the clinical questions regarding rehabilitation strategies in adults with acute or subacute traumatic SCI. T...
KEY FINDING: There was no difference between body weight–supported treadmill training and conventional rehabilitation with respect to improvements in Functional Independence Measure (FIM) Locomotor score.
Global Spine Journal, 2017 • January 1, 2017
This guideline addresses controversial areas in acute SCI management, including surgical timing, MPSS use, anticoagulation, MRI role, and rehabilitation strategies. It provides evidence-based recommen...
KEY FINDING: Early surgery (≤24 hours after injury) may be considered for traumatic central cord syndrome in adults.