title: Work participation among persons with traumatic spinal cord injury and meningomyelocele1.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study injury-related and individual factors as predictors of work participation in persons with traumatic and congenital spinal cord injury.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional questionnaire study.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred and eighty-two persons with traumatic spinal cord injury treated in the Spinal Injuries Unit in Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Göteborg, Sweden, and 48 persons with meningomyelocele admitted to the Young Adult Teams in Göteborg, Borås and Skövde, Sweden.
  
  
  METHODS
  A structured questionnaire was sent by post. Main outcome variable was participation in work. Logistic regression modelling was used to study the associations between the potential predictors and work participation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Employment rates were 47% in the traumatic spinal cord injury group and 38% in the meningomyelocele group. The presence of other somatic or mental disorder, and neuropathic pain decreased work participation among the men with traumatic spinal cord injury. Among persons with meningomyelocele, better ambulatory status and higher educational level increased work participation. In all groups higher independence in daily activities increased the probability of work participation. According to multivariable modelling carried out for the men with traumatic spinal cord injury, age over 55 years and the presence of mental disorder decreased work participation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our data show that work participation is affected by individual and injury-related factors. Of the latter, many can be affected by rehabilitation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Sahlgrenska Academy at Göteborg University and Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Sweden. kirsi.valtonen@pp.inet.fi
authors.forename: Kirsi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Valtonen
authors.forename: Ann-Katrin
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Karlsson
authors.forename: Hannu
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Alaranta
authors.forename: Eira
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Viikari-Juntura
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004522:Educational Status; D004651:Employment; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008591:Meningomyelocele / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D011379:Prognosis; D011788:Quality of Life; D012050:Rehabilitation, Vocational; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014937:Work