Article

Evaluation of rehabilitation outcomes following acquired disability should
include participation in social and community life. Evidence is needed to guide
clinical practice to ensure that it is client-centered; therefore, findings from
studies that report on social and community participation following spinal cord
injury (SCI) need to be reviewed and synthesized. The objectives of this critical
literature review are to examine the available evidence on social and community
participation following SCI and to examine the factors that influence that
participation. The barriers and facilitators will be identified and described in
terms of the contextual factors - personal or environmental, as outlined by the
International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health. An additional
objective is to appraise the quality of the evidence examined. A systematic
literature search was completed in the databases OVID MEDLINE, AMED, CINAHL PLUS,
PSYCHINFO, and hand searches were carried out. Quantitative, qualitative, and
mixed methods studies were included. Twenty-three studies fulfilled the inclusion
criteria: 17 quantitative, five qualitative, and one mixed methods. In general,
studies were of low methodological quality, and no intervention studies were
identified. The terms participation, social participation, and community
participation were used interchangeably often without clarification of meaning.
Adequate personal care assistance, appropriate social support, having adequate
specialized equipment, and appropriate occupational therapy input were found to
facilitate social and community participation, whereas problems with transport,
inaccessibility of the natural and built environment, issues with healthcare
services and rehabilitation providers, and pain were identified as barriers.
In-depth investigation into what aspects of social and community participation
are important to those living with SCI is needed so that client-focused solutions
and interventions can be identified and developed, aimed at creating and
promoting opportunities for social and community participation.

Langue : ANGLAIS