Spinal Cord Injury Rehabilitation Evidence: Method of the SCIRE Systematic Review

Eng, Janice J.
Teasell, Robert W.
Miller, William C.
Wolfe, Dalton L.
Townson, Andrea F.
Aubut, Jo-Anne
Abramson, Caroline
Hsieh, Jane T.C.
Connolly, Sandra
Konnyu, Kristin

Janice J. Eng, PhD, BSc (PT/OT),is a Professor, School of Rehabilitation Sciences, University of British Columbia; Scientist, Rehab Research Lab, GF Strong Rehab Centre; and Investigator, International Collaboration on Repair Discoveries (ICORD), Vancouver, Canada.
Robert W. Teasell, MD, FRCPC,is a Physiatrist with Parkwood Hospital, St. Joseph's Health Care; a Clinical Scientist with the Aging, Rehabilitation and Geriatric Care Program, Lawson Health Research Institute; and Professor and Chair/Chief with the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at the Schulich School of Medicine, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada.
William C. Miller, PhD, OT,is an Associate Professor, School of Rehabilitation Sciences, University of British Columbia; Scientist, Rehab Research Lab, GF Strong Rehab Centre; and Investigator, ICORD, Vancouver, Canada.
Dalton L. Wolfe, PhD,is an Associate Scientist, Lawson Health Research Institute, Aging Rehabilitation and Geriatric Care, and the Schulich School of Medicine, University of Western Ontario, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, St. Joseph's Health Care London, Parkwood Hospital, London, Ontario, Canada.
Andrea F. Townson, MD, FRCPC,is a Clinical Assistant Professor, University of British Columbia, Division of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation; Medical Manager SCI Rehab Program at GF Strong Rehabilitation Centre; and Investigator, ICORD, Vancouver, British Columbia.
Jo-Anne Aubut, BA,is a Research Assistant with the Aging, Rehabilitation and Geriatric Care Program, Lawson Health Research Institute, London, Ontario, Canada.
Caroline Abramson, MA,is a Research Assistant, ICORD, Vancouver, Canada.
Jane T.C. Hsieh, MSc,is an Associate Scientist, Lawson Health Research Institute, Aging Rehabilitation and Geriatric Care, London, Ontario, Canada.
Sandra Connolly, BHScOT,is an Occupational Therapist at St. Joseph's Health Care London, Parkwood Hospital, London, Ontario, Canada.
Kristin Konnyu, BSc,is a Graduate Student, School of Rehabilitation Sciences, University of BC, and Research Assistant, ICORD, Vancouver, Canada.

Topics in Stroke Rehabilitation 13(1):p 1-10, July 2007. | DOI: 10.1310/sci1301-1

Spinal Cord Injury Rehabilitation Evidence (SCIRE) is a synthesis of the research evidence underlying rehabilitation interventions to improve the health of people living with SCI. SCIRE covers a comprehensive set of topics. The SCIRE used a systematic and well-defined protocol to assess and synthesize the evidence. Each article was scored for its methodological quality using either the Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro) scale for randomized controlled trials or the Downs and Black tool for other types of studies. Following the individual study assessment, conclusions were drawn about the accumulated studies for each topic of interest based on the levels of evidence, quality of studies, and concurring evidence. The SCIRE project was designed for health professionals to inform them of best practices.