Abstract:
Purpose: To find out perceptions of SCI patients about their functional independence at CRP in Bangladesh.Objectives: To find out the perception about functional independence of spinal cord injury patients, their knowledge about injury, capability of doing functional activities independently, expectation about functional independence, their perception about barriers to perform functional activities independently&how Physiotherapy helps them to regain their functional independence. Methodology: A qualitative study design was used to conduct the study. Twelve subjects with spinal cord injury of SCI unit of Centre for the Rehabilitation of the paralyzed (CRP) inpatient physiotherapy department were interviewed in this study. The samples were selected by convenience sampling method. The data were collected by using an open ended questionnaire form and coded by six themes; finally data are analyzed and presented qualitative analysis. Result: Following themes have been emerged on the basis of data analysis: knowledge about injury, capability of doing self-care activities of daily living, Patients expectation of functional outcome in future, barriers to perform activities of daily living, role of physiotherapy to regain their functional ability, preferable profession after returning to the community.According to the themes the results are made. This includes not only educational level but also awareness about gaining knowledge is also important for the patients. Almost all the paraplegic patients are capable of doing their self-care activities properly after completing rehabilitation stage. In case of incomplete tetraplegic SCI patients there is a chance of being able to do self-care activities properly. But in case of complete paraplegic there is no or very few chance of being able to do their self-care activities. Muddy path, stairs, riding on vehicle etc. are their barriers. Their poor physical condition is also their barrier. Almost all the participants said that, physiotherapy helped them very much on regaining functional ability. Most of them wanted to join in their previous profession because they used to do that .Others said that, after taking vocational training they will involve in new jobs. Keywords: Perception, SCI, Functional Independence
