The SCIPUS scale was developed as a measure of the risk for pressure ulcer development for individuals with SCI who are in a rehabilitation centre(Salzeber et al. 1996). Items for the scale were identified based on statistical analysis of data from 176 individuals with SCI, which compared development of pressure ulcers with demographic variables and potential pressure ulcer risk factors. Every patient is evaluated in fifteen domains: 1) level of activity, 2) mobility, 3) complete SCI, 4) urine incontinence or constantly moist, 5) autonomic dysreflexia or sever spasticity, 6) age, 7) tobacco use/smoking, 8) pulmonary disease, 9) cardiac disease or glucose > 110 mg/dl, 11) renal disease, 12) impaired cognitive function, 13) in a nursing home or hospital, 14)  albumin < 3.4 or T, protein < 6.4 and 15) hematorcrit <36.0%. Most items are scored dichotomously as either present or absent, but 4 items have three response options.

Number of items: 15

Procedure/Administration: Raters indicate client status based on personal knowledge of the of the client or chart review.

How scored: Dichotomous items are given a weighted score of 0 when absent and 1 or 2 when present and non dichotomous items are given a weighted score based on the descriptive criteria provided on the scoring sheet. For example, the presence of pulmonary disease (ICD codes 450, 460-519 & 796.0) = a score of 2. By adding domain scores together a summary score is calculated. 

Interpretability:  Scores range from 0 (best prognosis) to 25 (worst prognosis). A cut off score of 6 has been suggested to indicate clients at risk for pressure ulcer development. 

Acceptability: Although the SCIPUS is reported to be the best measure for individuals with SCI, the reliability of the scale has not been demonstrated with this population. The scale was developed specifically for use in rehabilitation centers and has not been tested in community dwelling populations..

Languages: N/a

Usability: There is minimal burden related to administering or scoring the scale if tests for diabetes, albumin and hemocrit are already part of the patient’s medical record.  Otherwise the blood tests required would be invasive and create respondent burden.

Time to administer: 10-15 minutes to administer (as long as laboratory data is already available).

Time to score: N/a

Training required: N/a

Availability: N/a

Equipment required: N/a

Summary: N/a

Psychometric Summary:

Note: TR= Test re-test; IC= Internal Consistency; Inter-O= Inter-observer; Intra-O= Intra-observer; SS= Sensitivity/Specificity.

Red light= A single study involving SCI subjects which has less than adequate findings of reliability, validity, and/or responsiveness.

Yellow light= A single study involving subjects with SCI which has adequate to excellent findings of reliability, validity, and/or responsiveness.

Green light= At least 2 studies involving subjects with SCI which have adequate to excellent findings of reliability, validity, and/or responsiveness.

N/a= No information.

References

• Salzberg C A, Byrne DW, Cayten CG, van Niewerburgh P, Murphy JG, Viehbeck M. A new pressure ulcer risk assessment scale for individuals with spinal cord injury. Am J Phys Med Rehabil 1996;75:96-104.