Vocational perspectives after spinal cord injury.
OBJECTIVE
To give insight into the vocational situation several years after a traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI) and describe the personal experiences and unmet needs; to give an overview of health and functional status per type of SCI and their relationship with employment status.


METHODS
Descriptive analysis of data from a questionnaire.


METHODS
Dutch rehabilitation centre with special department for patients with spinal cord injuries.


METHODS
Fifty-seven patients with a traumatic SCI, aged 18-60 years, admitted to the rehabilitation centre from 1990 to 1998.


METHODS
Questionnaire with items related to vocational outcome, job experiences, health and functional status.


RESULTS
Of 49 patients who were working at the moment of SCI 60% currently had a paid job. Vocational outcome was related to a higher educational level. A significant relation between the SCI-specific health and functional status and employment was not found. The respondents who changed to a new employer needed more time to resume work, but seemed more satisfied with the job and lost fewer working hours than those who resumed work with the same employer. In spite of reasonable to good satisfaction with the current work situation, several negative experiences and unmet needs were reported.


CONCLUSIONS
Despite a high participation in paid work following SCI, the effort of the disabled worker to have and keep a job should not be underestimated.
Schönherr
M C
MC
Centre for Rehabilitation, University Hospital Groningen, PO Box 30002, 9750 RA Haren, The Netherlands. m.c.schonherr@beatrixoord.nl
Groothoff
J W
JW
Mulder
G A
GA
Eisma
W H
WH
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000328:Adult; D004522:Educational Status; D004651:Employment / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015601:Injury Severity Score; D007588:Job Satisfaction; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009426:Netherlands; D012050:Rehabilitation, Vocational; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000145:classification / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires