Prioritization of rehabilitation Domains for establishing spinal cord injury high performance indicators using a modification of the Hanlon method: SCI-High Project

Objectives: To prioritize Domains of SCI Rehabilitation Care (SCI-Care) based on clinical importance and feasibility to inform the development of indicators of quality SCI-Care for adults with SCI/D in Canada. Methods: A 17-member external advisory committee, comprised of key stakeholders, ranked 15/37 Domains of rehabilitation previously flagged by the E-scan project team for gaps between knowledge generation and clinical implementation. Priority scores (D) were calculated using the Hanlon formula: D=[A+(2×B)]×C, where A is prevalence, B is seriousness, and C is the effectiveness of available interventions. A modified “EAARS” (Economic, Acceptability, Accessibility, Resources, and Simplicity) criterion was used to rank feasibility on a scale of 0–4 (4 is high). The product of these two scores determined the initial Domain ranking. Following the consensus process, further changes were made to the Domain rankings. Results: Despite a low feasibility score, Sexual Health was ranked as high priority; and, the Community Participation and Employment Domains were merged. The 11 final prioritized Domains in alphabetic order were: Cardiometabolic Health; Community Participation and Employment; Emotional Well-Being; Reaching, Grasping, and Manipulation; Self-Management; Sexual Health; Tissue Integrity; Urinary Tract Infection; Urohealth; Walking, and Wheeled Mobility. Conclusions: The modified Hanlon method was used to facilitate prioritization of 11 of 37 Domains to advance the quality of SCI-care by 2020. In future, the Spinal Cord Injury Rehabilitation Care High Performance Indicators (SCI-High) Project Team will develop structure, process and outcome indicators for each prioritized Domain.