Mothabeng DJ1
1University of Pretoria, Physiotherapy, Pretoria, South Africa
Background: . People with spinal cord injury experience various challenges related to reintegrating back into and participating in society following institutionalized rehabilitation. Community reintegration and social participation are the ultimate outcomes of spinal cord injury (SCI) rehabilitation. Therefore, rehabilitation professionals need to understand the factors influencing people with SCI (PWSCI) to reintegrate into the community and have a good quality of life.
Purpose: The purpose of the study was to investigate environmental barriers influencing the community reintegration of PWSCI in the Tshwane metropolitan area, South Africa.
Methods: 44An exploratory cross-sectional study of 160 community-dwelling adults living with SCI in the Tshwane metropolitan area, Gauteng Province, South Africa was conducted. Data were collected using the socio-demographic and injury questionnaire (SDIQ), the Return to Normal Living Index (RNLI), and the Craig Hospital Inventory of Environmental Factors (CHIEF-SF). Data were captured onto the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS 2) and analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics.
Results: Only twenty percent of the participants were completely satisfied with their community reintegration. Satisfaction with community reintegration was sinificantly associatedwith perceived environmental barriers, with accessibility barriers rating highest. Participants' years of living with SCI, education, race, residential area, employment, level of SCI and perceived health were significantly associated with both environmental barriers and community reintegration.
Conclusion(s): Environmental factors play a significant role in the community integration of people with spinal cord injuries. Most of these factors are modifiable and need to be addressed in order to enhance quality.
Implications: This study highlighted a significant relationship between perceived environmental barriers and community reintegration for adults with SCI. Transport was a major barrier. Rehabilitation professionals need to advocate for the removal of environmental barriers, especially transport, which negatively impacts on community integration.
Keywords: environmental factors, community integration, spinal cord injury
Funding acknowledgements: Physiotherapy Research Foundation of the SASP and the University pf Pretoria School healthcare Sciences
Purpose: The purpose of the study was to investigate environmental barriers influencing the community reintegration of PWSCI in the Tshwane metropolitan area, South Africa.
Methods: 44An exploratory cross-sectional study of 160 community-dwelling adults living with SCI in the Tshwane metropolitan area, Gauteng Province, South Africa was conducted. Data were collected using the socio-demographic and injury questionnaire (SDIQ), the Return to Normal Living Index (RNLI), and the Craig Hospital Inventory of Environmental Factors (CHIEF-SF). Data were captured onto the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS 2) and analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics.
Results: Only twenty percent of the participants were completely satisfied with their community reintegration. Satisfaction with community reintegration was sinificantly associatedwith perceived environmental barriers, with accessibility barriers rating highest. Participants' years of living with SCI, education, race, residential area, employment, level of SCI and perceived health were significantly associated with both environmental barriers and community reintegration.
Conclusion(s): Environmental factors play a significant role in the community integration of people with spinal cord injuries. Most of these factors are modifiable and need to be addressed in order to enhance quality.
Implications: This study highlighted a significant relationship between perceived environmental barriers and community reintegration for adults with SCI. Transport was a major barrier. Rehabilitation professionals need to advocate for the removal of environmental barriers, especially transport, which negatively impacts on community integration.
Keywords: environmental factors, community integration, spinal cord injury
Funding acknowledgements: Physiotherapy Research Foundation of the SASP and the University pf Pretoria School healthcare Sciences
Topic: Disability & rehabilitation; Neurology: spinal cord injury; Neurology
Ethics approval required: Yes
Institution: University of Pretoria
Ethics committee: Health Sciences Research Ethics Committee
Ethics number: 38/2008
All authors, affiliations and abstracts have been published as submitted.
