Cross-cultural adaptation, validation, and reliability of the Turkish version of the spinal cord injury Pain Instrument

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to translate and culturally adapt the spinal cord injury Pain Instrument (SCIPI) into Turkish and assess its validity and reliability for screening neuropathic pain (NP) in people with spinal cord injury (SCI). DESIGN: A prospective cross-sectional study. SETTING: The study was carried out at the Istinye University Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation Application and Research Center. PARTICIPANTS: Forty people with SCI. INTERVENTIONS: Not applicable. OUTCOME MEASURES: Internal consistency (Cronbach's α), test-retest reliability (ICC), and construct validity (correlation with Douleur Neuropathique 4 [DN4] and Visual Analogue Scale [VAS]) were evaluated. Bland-Altman analysis assessed measurement agreement. RESULTS: The T-SCIPI exhibited acceptable internal consistency (α = 0.778) and excellent test-retest reliability across all items (ICC = 0.871-0.965). Bland-Altman analysis indicated no systematic bias. Construct validity was confirmed by strong correlations with DN4 (r = 0.747, P < 0.001) and VAS pain intensity (r = 0.684, P < 0.001). No floor or ceiling effects were detected. CONCLUSION: The T-SCIPI is a valid, reliable, and culturally appropriate tool for screening NP in Turkish-speaking people with SCI. Its brevity and ease of administration enhance its utility in clinical practice and research, facilitating early NP identification and management in this population. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT06990243..