SOS Properties

Analyses completed by Kolakowsky-Hayner and colleagues (2000) indicate good internal consistency and criterion-related validity of the Service Obstacles Scale.

The internal consistency of SOS items was investigated using Spearman's rho correlations. All items were positively correlated with each other with p < .01 for all values. The items regarding satisfaction with the amount of professional help, good brain injury treatment, and adequate resources were highly related as indicated by correlations ranging from .559 to .766. The strength of the correlations between the transportation item, the money item, and the remaining items was lower, ranging from .290 to .477.

Two sets of analyses provided evidence of the criterion-related validity of the SOS. The SOS items were related to Family Needs Questionnaire scale scores (Kreutzer & Marwitz, 1989). Correlations were in the expected directions. Respondents who reported a greater number of unmet needs were also more likely to report more obstacles to services and greater dissatisfaction with community resources.

A similar pattern of findings was evident for quality of life ratings (quality of life was addressed by asking each respondent to answer the question, "In general, how satisfied are you with your life now?" Responses were made on a five point Likert-type scale ranging from Very Dissatisfied to Very Satisfied). Lower quality of life ratings were associated with reports of more obstacles and lesser satisfaction with community resources.

Correlational analysis indicated that the SOS has three main components. The first component relates to satisfaction with treatment resources. Items addressing satisfaction with professional help, brain injury treatment resources, and quality of care were highly correlated. Obstacles to receiving services were addressed by the remaining two SOS items. The second and third SOS components relate to finances as an obstacle and transportation as an obstacle to receiving services. Correlational analysis indicated that the two obstacles items were relatively independent of one another and relatively independent from the four satisfaction with treatment resources items.