Health-related factors for work participation of persons with Spinal Cord Injury in Finland

Objective: To explore work participation and the health-related factors affecting work participation among the Finnish Spinal Cord injury (FinSCI) study population (n = 884). Methods: A cross-sectional explorative observational study in the FinSCI community survey applying Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS®) forms on Social Health and Global Health. Analyses of socio-demographic and injury-related data were performed. Results: Employment among the study population (n = 452) was 26.5%. Physical, Mental, Social and General Health were better in the employed group compared with work-age persons not working. Logistic regression showed that work participation was related to all health domains, but Physical Health and Ability to Participate in Social Roles and Activities in Social Health were the strongest indicators of likelihood of being at work. Paraplegia and young age were associated with increased likelihood of work participation. Conclusion: The first national survey among people with spinal cord injury in Finland shows low level of employment. The results suggest that pain, physical function, and ability to participate in social roles should be monitored by health and vocational professionals when assessing a person’s likelihood of being in work.

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Psychosocial aspects of health-related quality of life and the association with patient-reported bladder symptoms and satisfaction after spinal cord injury

Spinal Cord ◽

10.1038/s41393-020-00609-x ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Odinachi Moghalu ◽

◽

John T. Stoffel ◽

Sean Elliott ◽

Blayne Welk ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Spinal Cord ◽

Spinal Cord Injury ◽

Health Related Quality ◽

Cord Injury ◽

Patient Reported ◽

Related Quality ◽

Health Related ◽

Bladder Symptoms

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The Effect of Exoskeletal-Assisted Walking on Spinal Cord Injury Bowel Function: Results from a Randomized Trial and Comparison to Other Physical Interventions

Journal of Clinical Medicine ◽

10.3390/jcm10050964 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (5) ◽

pp. 964

Author(s):

Peter H. Gorman ◽

Gail F. Forrest ◽

Pierre K. Asselin ◽

William Scott ◽

Stephen Kornfeld ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Spinal Cord ◽

Spinal Cord Injury ◽

Bowel Function ◽

Bowel Dysfunction ◽

Secondary Outcome ◽

Secondary Outcome Measure ◽

Cord Injury ◽

Patient Reported ◽

Stool Form ◽

Time Since Injury

Bowel function after spinal cord injury (SCI) is compromised because of a lack of voluntary control and reduction in bowel motility, often leading to incontinence and constipation not easily managed. Physical activity and upright posture may play a role in dealing with these issues. We performed a three-center, randomized, controlled, crossover clinical trial of exoskeletal-assisted walking (EAW) compared to usual activity (UA) in people with chronic SCI. As a secondary outcome measure, the effect of this intervention on bowel function was assessed using a 10-question bowel function survey, the Bristol Stool Form Scale (BSS) and the Spinal Cord Injury Quality of Life (SCI-QOL) Bowel Management Difficulties instrument. Fifty participants completed the study, with bowel data available for 49. The amount of time needed for the bowel program on average was reduced in 24% of the participants after EAW. A trend toward normalization of stool form was noted. There were no significant effects on patient-reported outcomes for bowel function for the SCI-QOL components, although the time since injury may have played a role. Subset analysis suggested that EAW produces a greater positive effect in men than women and may be more effective in motor-complete individuals with respect to stool consistency. EAW, along with other physical interventions previously investigated, may be able to play a previously underappreciated role in assisting with SCI-related bowel dysfunction.

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