Quality of life, social participation, appraisals and coping post spinal cord injury: a review of four community samples.
METHODS
Cross-sectional or psychotherapy, questionnaire.


OBJECTIVE
To examine the community needs of people with spinal cord injury (SCI) across four European countries and to identify areas of unmet needs. It is intended that this information will be of use to rehabilitation professionals in fostering greater social participation among SCI individuals.


METHODS
United Kingdom, Germany, Austria and Switzerland.


METHODS
Self-report questionnaires were sent to 1000 people with SCI resident in the community in the UK, Germany, Austria and Switzerland. Questionnaires measured current needs, community integration, mood, appraisals, coping strategies, functional independence and perceived manageability.


RESULTS
Occupation, sexual activity and pain relief were areas indicative of highest community needs in all four countries. Most participants were psychologically well adjusted and socially integrated into the community. Well-addressed needs were skin management, wheelchair needs and accommodation. Some differences that occurred in certain areas across the four countries were found.


CONCLUSIONS
This study has highlighted that the main areas of unmet needs for a European community sample of people with SCI includes levels of occupation, sexual activity and pain relief. The findings will be of interest to those involved in rehabilitation of newly as well as long-term injured people and demonstrate the need to consistently re-address such issues as part of a person's long-term rehabilitation in order to achieve and maximise effective social participation.
Kennedy
P
P
National Spinal Injuries Centre, Stoke Mandeville Hospital, Aylesbury, UK.
Lude
P
P
Taylor
N
N
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001317:Austria / Q000453:epidemiology; D015897:Comorbidity; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D004651:Employment; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020380:Needs Assessment; D010146:Pain / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D011788:Quality of Life; D012917:Social Adjustment; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013557:Switzerland / Q000453:epidemiology; D006113:United Kingdom / Q000453:epidemiology