Rehabilitation Research and Practice, 2017 · DOI: https://doi.org/10.1155/2017/6938718 · Published: December 21, 2017
The Functional Independence Measure (FIM) is used to assess the need for assistance in people with spinal cord injuries (SCI). This study checks if the FIM scale measures one single thing, or multiple things, and if it stays consistent over time. The study found that the FIM scale measures multiple factors, not just one. The structure of these factors remains relatively stable throughout the rehabilitation process, with only minor changes. The ‘motor’ part of the FIM scale was found to split into two sub-factors, which means it might not be as straightforward as previously thought. Using the overall FIM score or just the motor score might not be accurate for people with SCI.
Instead of relying on total or subscale scores, clinicians should consider using individual scores from each of the 18 FIM items and represent these results in a radial diagram.
Given the 2-factor structure of the motor subscale, caution should be exercised when interpreting the motor score separately.
Larger studies in different settings and with longer follow-up periods are needed to validate these findings and explore the stability of the FIM factor structure over time.