• Comprised of 3 of the 10 domains originally included in the QIF
  • Includes the categories of grooming, bathing and feeding
  • This version of the QIF includes the categories that relate directly to the upper extremity motor score assessment of ASIA

Clinical Considerations

  • Designed specifically for SCI population
  • ASIA motor scores are strongly correlated to performance improvement on QIF scores
  • It is not a comprehensive measure of upper extremity function or predictor of independence in ADLs upon discharge
  • The QIF reflects small gains in function

ICF Domain

Activity ▶ Self-Care

Administration

  • Clinician-administered; interview format
  • Administration time is approximately 10 minutes
  • The functional performance categories are scored 0-4 in order of increasing independence

Number of Items

14

Equipment

None

Scoring

Each category of functional performance is calculated according to weighted scores.

Languages

N/A

Training Required

Does not require advanced training.

Availability

Can be found in the appendix of the following article: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8493037/

# of studies reporting psychometric properties: 1

Interpretability

  • Scores are provided to give credit for being able to complete a portion of the task rather than the entire task
  • The scores represent functional performance in activities rather than performance in component parts

MCID: not established for SCI
SEM: not established for SCI
MDC: not established for SCI

Reliability

Inter-correlations of items within the same category for each domain:

  • Grooming: r = 0.65-0.70
  • Bathing: r = 0.67-0.93
  • Feeding: r = 0.44-0.88

(Marino et al. 1993; n=22; 22 males; mean age 33 years; traumatic quadriplegia C4-C7 injury)

Validity

  • Correlation of the modified QIF and its subscales with the Functional Independence Measure (FIM) subscales and the Upper Extremity Motor Score (UEMS) subscales measuring the constructs were High
    • QIF-modified and FIM: r = 0.93
      • Subscale – Grooming: r = 0.94
      • Subscale – Bathing: r = 0.92
      • Subscale – Feeding:  r = 0.75
    • QIF-modified and UEMS: r = 0.91
      • Subscale – Grooming: r = 0.90
      • Subscale – Bathing: r = 0.84
      • Subscale – Feeding: r = 0.90
  • Feeding ability was assessed by the QIF significantly better than by the FIM (P<.01)

(Marino et al. 1993; n=22; 22 males; mean age 33 years; traumatic quadriplegia C4-C7 injury)

Responsiveness

No data on responsiveness was available for the QIF-modified.

Reviewers

Dr. Carlos L. Cano-Herrera, Elsa Sun

Date Last Updated

31 December 2024

Marino RJ, Huang M, Knight P, Herbison GJ, Ditunno JF Jr, Segal M. Assessing selfcare status in quadriplegia: comparison of the quadriplegia index of function (QIF) and the functional independence measure (FIM). Paraplegia, 1993; 31:225-233.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8493037

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