Article

OBJECTIVE: To identify the extent to which early participation and environmental
variables, when assessed at discharge from hospital, add to injury and
demographic variables in the prediction of employment following traumatic spinal
cord injury. DESIGN: Prospective study in which participants were assessed on a
range of injury, demographic, participation and environmental measures at
discharge from inpatient rehabilitation and then followed up 12 months later to
assess their employment status. SUBJECTS: A cohort of 72 eligible patients
discharged from hospitals' rehabilitation units. RESULTS: Using injury,
demographic and contextual variables as predictors, 94% of not employed and 65%
of employed cases (87% overall) could be correctly classified.
The contextual
variables made a significant contribution to improving predictive power, beyond
that achieved by use of the more restricted set of injury and demographic
variables. Three variables made significant, independent contributions at the
third and final step of a sequential logistic regression: Functional Independence
Measure score at discharge, high-skill pre-injury occupation, and perceived
community integration
(CIM score, at discharge). CONCLUSION:
To assist in raising
employment achievements post-injury, attention should be given during
rehabilitation to factors beyond the traditional patient injury and demographic
variables, as well as considering community integration support services when
developing vocational rehabilitation service plans.

Langue : ANGLAIS