Nizeyimana E1, Phillips J1
1University of the Western Cape, Physiotherapy, Cape Town, South Africa
Background: Traumatic spinal cord injury (TSCI) is one of the most devastating injuries resulting in varying degrees of disability. A high incidence rate of traumatic spinal cord injuries resulting mainly from violence- related has been reported in South Africa. Following a TSCI, the ability to participate in meaningful life roles and activities in and outside the home can change and diminish significantly. Successful community reintegration following a TSCI is considered an important goal of rehabilitation as this has been positively associated with quality of life, self-esteem and life satisfaction.
Purpose: To examine relationship between self-efficacy and community reintegration in a sample of adults with a traumatic spinal cord injury in the Western Cape, South Africa
Methods: A quantitative cross-sectional survey was conducted using a self-administered questionnaire that included the following scales: Community Reintegration Measure (CIM) and the Moorong Self-Efficacy Scale (MSES). Recruitment of the participants took place in the Cape Metropolitan Area of the Western Cape, South Africa. Strategies included invitations through the Quad-Para Association of South Africa (QASA), and word- of- mouth (snowball technique). QASA offers training, housing and support to individuals who sustained a TSCI in South Africa. Descriptive statistics was employed to summarize the demographic data and it is presented using frequency tables and expressed as percentages, means and standard deviation (SD). Regression analysis using Chi-square, Phi and Pearson's r was done to determine the correlation coefficient (relationships) between CIM and MSES. To determine the levels of reintegration (low vs high), a model of CIM total score was created using a cut off-point score of 40 (CIM ≤ 39 versus ≥ 40). Alpha level was set at 0.05.
Results: The overall sample consisted of 108 individuals with a TSCI ranging from 19-71 years old (M= 37.2; SD = 12.2) who were living in the community and were between 1 and 35 years after the injury (M= 10.24; SD= 9.1). The total mean scores for CIM, MSES were 32.81 (SD=13.9) and 55.06 (SD=15) respectively. The mean scores for the two MSES factors were: Daily Activity (M= 26.63, SD= 8.0 and Social Functioning (M= 28.44, SD= 8.4). A positive strong correlation was found between CIM and MSES (p 0.000) with higher self-efficacy related to higher community reintegration. Partial correlation results suggested that observed relation between self-efficacy and community reintegration is due purely to the influence of social functioning factor but not the daily activity factor of the MSES scale.
Conclusion(s): Community reintegration was generally low and a strong positive correlation was found between reintegration and self-efficacy. Community reintegration following a TSCI is a complex process and is largely dependent on individuals' ability to manipulate their own interpersonal circumstance, interpersonal interactions and inter-environmental interactions.
Implications: The results suggest that a great need exist to develop interventions targeting self-efficacy especially social functioning to better reintegrate individuals with a TSCI into their communities after the injury.
Keywords: Community reintegration, spinal cord injury, self-efficacy
Funding acknowledgements: University of the Western Cape; National Research Foundation of South Africa
Purpose: To examine relationship between self-efficacy and community reintegration in a sample of adults with a traumatic spinal cord injury in the Western Cape, South Africa
Methods: A quantitative cross-sectional survey was conducted using a self-administered questionnaire that included the following scales: Community Reintegration Measure (CIM) and the Moorong Self-Efficacy Scale (MSES). Recruitment of the participants took place in the Cape Metropolitan Area of the Western Cape, South Africa. Strategies included invitations through the Quad-Para Association of South Africa (QASA), and word- of- mouth (snowball technique). QASA offers training, housing and support to individuals who sustained a TSCI in South Africa. Descriptive statistics was employed to summarize the demographic data and it is presented using frequency tables and expressed as percentages, means and standard deviation (SD). Regression analysis using Chi-square, Phi and Pearson's r was done to determine the correlation coefficient (relationships) between CIM and MSES. To determine the levels of reintegration (low vs high), a model of CIM total score was created using a cut off-point score of 40 (CIM ≤ 39 versus ≥ 40). Alpha level was set at 0.05.
Results: The overall sample consisted of 108 individuals with a TSCI ranging from 19-71 years old (M= 37.2; SD = 12.2) who were living in the community and were between 1 and 35 years after the injury (M= 10.24; SD= 9.1). The total mean scores for CIM, MSES were 32.81 (SD=13.9) and 55.06 (SD=15) respectively. The mean scores for the two MSES factors were: Daily Activity (M= 26.63, SD= 8.0 and Social Functioning (M= 28.44, SD= 8.4). A positive strong correlation was found between CIM and MSES (p 0.000) with higher self-efficacy related to higher community reintegration. Partial correlation results suggested that observed relation between self-efficacy and community reintegration is due purely to the influence of social functioning factor but not the daily activity factor of the MSES scale.
Conclusion(s): Community reintegration was generally low and a strong positive correlation was found between reintegration and self-efficacy. Community reintegration following a TSCI is a complex process and is largely dependent on individuals' ability to manipulate their own interpersonal circumstance, interpersonal interactions and inter-environmental interactions.
Implications: The results suggest that a great need exist to develop interventions targeting self-efficacy especially social functioning to better reintegrate individuals with a TSCI into their communities after the injury.
Keywords: Community reintegration, spinal cord injury, self-efficacy
Funding acknowledgements: University of the Western Cape; National Research Foundation of South Africa
Topic: Neurology: spinal cord injury
Ethics approval required: Yes
Institution: University of the Western Cape
Ethics committee: Biomedical Research Ethics Committee
Ethics number: 18733
All authors, affiliations and abstracts have been published as submitted.
