title: Community integration outcomes of people with spinal cord injury and multiple matched controls: A pilot study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Australia's National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) is designed to influence home, social and economic participation for Scheme participants. Given the major disability reform underway, this pilot study aimed to: (i) examine community integration outcomes of people with spinal cord injury (SCI); (ii) compare findings with multiple matched controls and (iii) consider findings within the context of Australia's NDIS.
  
  
  METHODS
  Setting: Victoria, Australia.
  
  
  METHODS
  Matched analysis (people with and without SCI).
  
  
  METHODS
  Community Integration Questionnaire (CIQ).
  
  
  METHODS
  n = 40 adults with SCI (M age = 52.8 years; 61% male; 77% traumatic SCI).
  
  
  METHODS
  Matched analyses from each SCI subject aged <70 years (n = 31) with four CIQ normative data subjects (from n = 1927) was undertaken, with key demographic variables matched (age range, gender, living location and living situation). Risk of low CIQ score as a function of SCI was also examined using conditional Poisson regression.
  
  
  RESULTS
  With key demographic variables held constant, small to medium effect sizes were found in favour of the normative sample, with statistically significant differences in home (ρ = 0.003) and productivity integration (ρ = 0.02). Relative risk of low home integration was significant in the SCI cohort (conditional RR (95% CI) = 3.1 (1.5-6.3), ρ = 0.001). Relative risk of low CIQ total, social integration and productivity scores did not reach significance.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This cohort of SCI participants was less integrated into home and productive occupations than matched norms, holding implications for planning and allocation of supports to influence outcomes within an NDIS. Further research is necessary to understand community integration outcomes in larger matched samples.
authors.affiliation: Occupational Therapy Department, Monash University, Frankston, Australia.
authors.forename: Libby
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Callaway
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Southern Clinical School, Monash University, Australia.|Southern Synergy, Clayton, Australia.
authors.forename: Joanne
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Enticott
authors.affiliation: Occupational Therapy Department, Monash University, Frankston, Australia.
authors.forename: Louise
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Farnworth
authors.affiliation: Department of Health and Medical Sciences, Swinburne University of Technology, Hawthorn, Australia.
authors.forename: Rachael
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: McDonald
authors.affiliation: Occupational Therapy Department, Monash University, Frankston, Australia.
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Migliorini
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, State University of Buffalo, Buffalo, New York, USA.
authors.forename: Barry
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Willer
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D062309:Community Integration; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D006233:Persons with Disabilities / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009788:Occupational Therapy / Q000458:organization & administration*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011594:Psychometrics; D011788:Quality of Life; D012737:Sex Factors; D058992:Social Participation; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D014739:Victoria
keywords: community integration; outcome measurement; spinal cord injury