title: Community participation for individuals with spinal cord injury living in Queensland, Australia.
abstract: METHODS
  Sequential mixed method design.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Determine factors associated with community participation for individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI).
  
  
  METHODS
  Queensland, Australia.
  
  
  METHODS
  Phase I consisted of a quantitative telephone survey of 270 people who had sustained a SCI within the past 50 years. To verify and interpret survey findings, Phase II involved a qualitative investigation. One focus group, one dyadic and one in-depth interview were conducted with a separate sample of eight people who had sustained a SCI within the past 50 years.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In Phase I, employment, paid or unpaid, was the strongest independent factor associated with community participation, whereas time since injury, completeness of injury, secondary conditions and functional independence were also independently associated. In Phase II, participants expressed that survey findings were consistent with their lived experiences. They explained that overall, they needed a strong reason to participate so that benefits outweigh the effort required to participate. Once out in the community, they recognised that other opportunities for participation arise.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Rehabilitation services need to support individuals with SCI to find meaningful employment and to engage in activities that provide them with a strong reason to participate.
authors.affiliation: College of Healthcare Sciences, James Cook University, Cairns, Queensland, Australia.
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Carr
authors.affiliation: Transitional Rehabilitation Program, Queensland Spinal Cord Injuries Service, Princess Alexandra Hospital, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.|Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
authors.forename: M B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Kendall
authors.affiliation: Spinal Outreach Team, Queensland Spinal Cord Injuries Service, Princess Alexandra Hospital, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
authors.forename: D I
authors.initials: DI
authors.lastname: Amsters
authors.affiliation: Spinal Outreach Team, Queensland Spinal Cord Injuries Service, Princess Alexandra Hospital, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
authors.forename: K J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Pershouse
authors.affiliation: Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.|Centre for Functioning and Health Research, Metro South Health, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kuipers
authors.affiliation: College of Public Health, Medical & Veterinary Sciences, James Cook University, Cairns, Queensland, Australia.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Buettner
authors.affiliation: College of Healthcare Sciences, James Cook University, Cairns, Queensland, Australia.
authors.forename: R N
authors.initials: RN
authors.lastname: Barker
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003256:Community Participation / Q000379:methods*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011793:Queensland / Q000453:epidemiology; D011897:Random Allocation; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult