Dalarna University's logo and link to the university's website

PURPOSE: To assesses the reliability and validity of the Bengali version of the World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule 2.0 (WHODAS 2.0, 36-item) for individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI).

METHODS: A total of 144 participants (81% men) completed the WHODAS 2.0, the Spinal Cord Independence Measure (SCIM), and the SF-36 Health Survey, alongside socio-demographic and injury-related data. A sub-sample of 62 was reassessed after 8-10 days. Reliability was evaluated using Cronbach's alpha and intra-class correlation coefficients (ICC). Validity was examined through internal structure, convergent validity (via correlations with SCIM and SF-36), discriminant validity (by comparing groups with tetraplegia and paraplegia), and Rasch analysis.

RESULTS: Internal consistency ranged from questionable (α = 0.69 for getting around) to excellent (α = 0.92 for life activities). Test-retest reliability ranged from moderate (ICC = 0.58 for cognition) to excellent (ICC = 0.92 for self-care). Significant correlations with SCIM and SF-36 supported convergent validity, while group differences based on neurological level supported discriminant validity. All items in the Cognition domain failed to fit the Rasch model.

CONCLUSION: The Bengali WHODAS 2.0 demonstrates acceptable reliability and validity for individuals with SCI, supporting its clinical use in resource-limited settings. Further validation in larger samples is recommended, particularly for the Cognition domain.