A cross-sectional study of the employment status of people with spinal cord injury living in the community / 中华物理医学与康复杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective:To learn about the employment situation of community-dwelling spinal cord injury (SCI ) survivors in Jiangsu Province and the factors which influence it, aiming to put forward suggestions which can help them return to work.Methods:This cross-sectional observational study was based on a International Spinal Cord Injury (InSCI) community survey in Jiangsu Province using a questionnaire (InSCI questionnaire) devloped with the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health as the framework. Data were collected using the InSCI questionnaire. Data on sociodemographics, diseases, body functions, activities and participation, environmental factors, general health, well-being and so on were collected. Descriptive statistics were computed to analyze the respondents′ employment-related information. Correlation analysis and multiple linear regression were used to analyze factors influencing the employment of these community-dwelling SCI survivors.Results:From January to December of 2018, 726 completed questionnaires were collected-541 through telephone interviews, 152 via Internet links and 33 via face-to-face interviews. Logistic regression showed that residential patterns (odds ratio, OR=0.472), whether there was someone to take care of them at home or going out ( OR=0.405), age at the onset of injury ( OR=0.949), personal factors ( OR=1.068), activity and participation ( OR=1.034), and environmental factors ( OR=1.043) all influenced the respondents′ engaging in paid work. Conclusion:The employment rate of patients with spinal cord injury living in the community is low (22.8%). Comprehensive rehabilitation programs and adequate family and social support should be implemented to help them return to work.