Comparison of functional abilities and community integration of spinal cord injury patient’s immediate discharge and after six months of rehabilitation

Abstract

Introduction: Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a traumatic or non- traumatic occurrence that fallouts in disorders to usual sensory, motor, or autonomic function and ultimately influences a patient’s physical, mental and social well- being. Purpose of study: It was aimed that comparison of functional abilities and community integration of spinal cord injury patient’s immediate discharge and after 6 months of rehabilitation. Methods: This study was done by using quantitative method, which was a cross sectional study on the people with patients of SCI who admitted at CRP, Bangladesh. Retrospective data was suitable to compare functional outcome and social integration between immediate discharge time and 6 months after rehabilitation. This methodology was chosen to fulfill the aim of this research project. The study population or total 50 participants were attended willingly & conventionally for this study. Data was collected by SCIM III questionnaire. Researcher maintained all-ethical issues. Data were numerically captured in SPSS 25 version. Furthermore, Microsoft excel was used for the analysis of the data and for the presentation of the data as well. Results: 50 participants (43 men and 7 women) with SCI were recruited. Just prior to discharge from in-patient rehabilitation at CRP people with SCI, significant decrease perceived after 6 months in the SCIM III total scores of subjects (61.92 – 51.32 scores). Slight decrement also showed in self-care, respiratory and sphincter control & mobility after 6 months. There were some specific differences in total SCIM III scores discharge and after 6 months when comparing them with age, gender, type of paralysis, occupation, income, marital status. Statistical comparison between age factor and type of paralysis with total SCIM III scores (Discharge, after 6months) presented statistically significant (p<0.005). Conclusion: The functional ability and community integration of subjects with SCI significantly decreased after 6 months of community living. There was a significant decrement in functional abilities, ADL and community integration during immediate discharge condition and after 6 months of living in community without rehabilitation. This finding confirmed important roles of physiotherapy treatment and community rehabilitation after discharge. Key words: spinal cord injury (SCI); rehabilitation; functional ability; Spinal Cord Independent Measurement III (SCIM III).