Assesment of primary rehabilitation needs in nerological rehabilitation: translation, adaptation and face validity of the Danish version of Rehabilitation Complexity Scale-Extended

Thomas Maribo, Asger R. Pedersen, Jim Jensen og Jørgen F. Nielsen
Abstract
Background: Assessing primary rehabilitation needs in patients with acquired brain injury is a challenge due to
case complexity and the heterogeneity of symptoms after brain injury. The Rehabilitation Complexity Scale-Extended
(RCS-E) is an instrument used in assessment of rehabilitation complexity in patients with severe brain injury. The aim of
the present study was to translate and test the face validity of the RCS-E as a referral tool for primary rehabilitation.
Face validity was tested in a sample of patients with acquired brain injury.
Methods: Ten clinicians and records from 299 patients with acquired brain injury were used in the translation,
cross-cultural adaptation and face validation study of the RCS-E. RCS-E was translated into Danish by a standardized
forward-backward translation by experts in the field. Face validity was assessed by a multi-professional team assessing
299 patients. The team was asked their opinion on whether the RCS-E presents a sufficient description of the patients.
Results: The RCS-E was translated according to international guidelines and tested by health professionals; some
adaptations were required due to linguistic problems and differences in the national health system structures.
The patients in the study had a mean age of 63.9 years (SD 14.7); 61 % were male.
We found an excellent face validity with a mean score of 8.2 (SD 0.34) assessed on a 0–10 scale.
Conclusions: The RCS-E demonstrated to be a valid assessment of primary rehabilitation needs in patients with
acquired brain injury. Excellent face validity indicates that the RCS-E is feasible for assessing primary rehabilitation
needs and the present study suggests its applicability to the Danish health care system.
Keywords: Assessment of rehabilitation needs, Translation and adaption, Validation, Complexity of rehabilitation
needs, Neurological rehabilitation, Acquired brain injury, Needs assessment, Psychometric properties,

BMC Neurology

Udgivelsesform Videnskabelige artikler
År 2016
Udgiver BMC Neurology

Kontaktperson

Thomas Maribo

Thomas Maribo

+45 2145 2470

thomar@rm.dk