Current research outcomes from the model spinal cord injury care systems

Abstract

T HIS ISSUE OF THE Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation is devoted entirely to articles from the Model Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) Care System Program. This special issue is the fifth in a series of publications that have disseminated information gathered by the model SCI systems. Previous publications were in 1982, 1986, 1990, and 1995. ~-4 Three were comprehensive books; the 1990 dissemination activity included a national consensus conference with published proceedings. The 1982 book was produced by the staff of the National Spinal Cord Injury Data Research Center (NSCIDRC) in Phoenix, AZ, and the 1986 book was by its successor, the National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center (NSCISC) in Birmingham, AL, without input from the individual model Systems' staffs. The 1990 and 1995 publications were the result of collaborative input from all the model systems in existence at that time. The current effort represents a continuation of that collaborative approach. Project directors of the model SCI systems decided to publish the latest results from the NSCISC database in a series of journal articles rather than another book. Reasons included the potential for broader distribution of the data, the easier accessibility of medical journals, the ability for researchers to identify relevant articles through MEDLINE and other literature searches, and the opportunity to enhance publication quality through the journal's peer review process. In addition to the Archives' regular blinded peer review process, each of these articles also underwent an internal advisory unblinded peer review process established by the model SCI system project directors. Each article was first reviewed by one of five current or former members of the Archives Editorial Board who are affiliated with the model SCI system program (Drs. Denise Tate, Diana Cardenas, Ralph Marino, Wayne Gordon, and Samuel Stover). Each article was also reviewed by NSCISC staff members, who payed particular attention to analysis and interpretation issues related to the use of the NSCISC database. Appropriate revisions were then made before the articles were submitted to the Archives. Model SCI system personnel generally did not participate in the Archives' peer review process. The National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR), which funds the model SCI systems, requires them to have all the necessary clinical components and