ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: Evaluate the measurement properties of the Neurobehavioral Cognitive Status Examination (NCSE) using rating scale analysis. DESIGN: Calibration of item responses collected as part of a study examining characteristics of case-management programs and treatment outcomes. SETTING: Three outpatient rehabilitation facilities. PARTICIPANTS: Convenience sample of 186 community-dwelling adults with TBI. RESULTS: Several rating scale analyses were performed to construct a unidimensional measure. Deletion of easy and misfitting items created a better targeted test (generated more spread among individuals) without increased error. CONCLUSIONS: If used with a community-based sample, three strata can be differentiated despite a skewed distribution. Recommended applications are with samples with considerably more cognitive impairment.
