“Level of cognitive status among the person with spinal cord injury (SPI) patients in tertiary Rehabilitation Hospital”

Abstract

Background: SCI is both physical and psychological challenge in which a person has changed life immediately and often permanently. Individuals with SCI face different types of additional challenges during rehabilitation process such as cognitive impairment. Cognitive impairment affects the rehabilitation and community re- integration and also changes their Quality of Life (QOL). Objective: This study aim is to identify the level of cognitive status in patients with SCI in a tertiary rehabilitation hospital and showed the association between demographic information (age, gender, education, injury type, neurological level) and cognitive status. Methodology: The study design was cross-sectional design in quantitative study. Participants (n=65) were selected purposively from a tertiary rehabilitation hospital. Result: Participants mean age was 36.62 years and SD ± 13.29. Male was 76.9% and female was 23.1% and ratio 3.3:1. Participant’s cognitive status according to BCRS scale: overall level of cognitive is 77.15%, level of concentration is 69.72%, recent memory 79.96%, past memory 78.61%, orientation 78.2% and functioning and self-care 79.3%. There were no strong association between demographic information (age, gender, education level, injury type and neurological level) and level of cognitive. Conclusion: These study findings provided information about cognitive impairment of SCI patient, though the percentage is little. So, cognitive assessment is important for the individuals with SCI that it may help to simplify and predict the functional challenges of SCI patient. Key word: SCI, Level of cognitive status, Quality of Life, Community re-integration etc.