Perceived information needs of community-dwelling persons with chronic spinal cord injury: findings of a survey and impact of race.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the perceived information needs of community-dwelling individuals with chronic spinal cord injury (SCI) and to determine factors that influence these needs.


METHODS
Cross-sectional survey mailed to 620 persons with chronic SCI who completed acute inpatient rehabilitation.


RESULTS
Of 103 (17%) returned surveys, 82 contained complete information and were useable for this study. Individuals with chronic SCI (M time since injury = 7 +/- 6 years) endorsed a multitude of information needs across a broad range of domains. Participant endorsements were most commonly observed in the areas of aging (73%), research (72%), financial aid (66%), and education (63%). Independent variables expected to influence information needs, including Internet use, whether the rehabilitation specialist also served as the primary care physician, and time since injury, showed no significant effect. Race/ethnicity was found to predict perceived information needs, with nonwhite participants endorsing a significantly greater degree of needs than white participants in 11 of 23 (48%) domains.


CONCLUSIONS
Perceived information needs of community-dwelling persons with SCI are not fully met years after discharge from acute inpatient rehabilitation, which may have implications with respect to psychological adjustment. Race/ethnicity appears to exert a significant influence on the endorsement of perceived information needs, but this finding must be investigated further considering other possible mediating/moderating variables. Results must be considered in light of the relatively low response rate of eligible participants.
Gontkovsky
Samuel T
ST
Center for Neuroscience and Neurological Recovery, Methodist Rehabilitation Center, Jackson, MS, USA. sgontkovsky@hotmail.com
Russum
Paula
P
Stokic
Dobrivoje S
DS
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D007255:Information Services; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D012044:Regression Analysis; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires