Predicting community reintegration after spinal cord injury from demographic and injury characteristics

Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 1999 Nov;80(11):1485-91. doi: 10.1016/s0003-9993(99)90262-9.

Abstract

Objective: To determine the influence of demographic and injury characteristics on the community reintegration of people with spinal cord injury (SCI).

Design: Prospective cross-sectional and longitudinal examination of individuals with SCI.

Setting: Follow-up of individuals at 1, 2, 5, 10, 15, and 20 years after SCI who received their initial rehabilitation in a Regional Model Spinal Cord Injury System.

Participants: A total of 3,835 individuals who met the inclusion criteria for the National SCI Database were studied cross-sectionally, and a subset of 347 individuals who were also enrolled in a longitudinal study of aging with SCI.

Main outcome measures: Subscales of the Craig Handicap Assessment and Reporting Technique (CHART).

Results: Neurologic classification, age, years postinjury, gender, ethnicity, and education explain 29% of the variance in physical independence, 29% of the variance in mobility, 28% of the variance in occupation. 9% of the variance in social integration, and 18% of the variance in economic self-sufficiency.

Conclusions: Although these factors are inadequate to explain most of the variation in community reintegration (handicap) after SCI, they might appropriately be used to adjust for case-mix differences when comparing rehabilitation facilities and techniques.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Activities of Daily Living*
  • Analysis of Variance
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Demography*
  • Diagnosis-Related Groups
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Longitudinal Studies
  • Male
  • Predictive Value of Tests
  • Research Design
  • Social Adjustment*
  • Spinal Cord Injuries / psychology*
  • Spinal Cord Injuries / rehabilitation