Person with spinal cord injury after institutional rehabilitation: duration and associated factors of return to first job

Abstract

Background: Spinal Cord Injury is a disorder that has a vast impact on every aspect of life. In Bangladesh, person with spinal cord injuries health status, quality of life and socioeconomic situation is relatively low which affect the employment. The impact of a job is not only to be self-sufficient but also a source of personal growth, mental adjustment, financial capability and better health. Employment for SCI person is a renowned issue but few studies have measured the average time of return to the first job. Moreover, there is a paucity of evidence in low and middle income countries. Aim: The study aimed to identify the average time to return to the first job after discharge and its associated factors. Methods and materials: A cross-sectional method was used in the study. Seventy-three persons with SCI were selected. They met the inclusion criteria of having a minimum of 1 year of work experience after the rehabilitation and age between 18 to 60 years. A self-developed questionnaire was used to interview through telephone. Descriptive statistics was followed by SPSS version 25. Result: The median time was 12 (SD± 18. 9) months and maximum of 74 months. It found the association of three associated factors for early employment. Being main income earner of a family, return to pre job and completion of higher years of education cause early return to the employment. Conclusion: According to the findings, therapists should consider the pre-job while planning rehabilitation for early employment. Employment advocacy must begin during the early stages of rehabilitation. Additional research is needed to identify the further association between setting realistic goal and early employment advocacy for first entry into employment. Keywords: Employment, Rehabilitation, Spinal Cord injuries, Return to Job