Article

Secondary health conditions (SHCs) are common following traumatic
spinal cord injury (tSCI) and are believed to influence a person's ability to
participate in daily activities (DAs). This association should be understood so
that health care providers may target interventions with clarity and purpose to
manage SHCs and facilitate DAs to maximal effect. OBJECTIVE: To explore the
association between SHCs and DAs expressed as the increased chance of not
participating as much as wanted in a DA when an SHC is present. METHODS:
Community-dwelling persons with tSCI (n = 1,137) responded to the SCI Community
Survey. The occurrence and frequency of 21 SHCs were determined. The extent of
participation in 26 DAs was measured. The relative risk (RR) of not participating
as much as wanted in a DA when a SHC is present was calculated. RESULTS: When
some SHC were present, the RR of not participating as much as wanted increased
significantly (range, 15%-153%; P < .001). Certain SHCs
(light-headedness/dizziness, fatigue, weight problems, constipation, shoulder
problems) were associated with a greater chance of not participating in many DAs.
No single SHC was associated with every DA and conversely not every DA was
associated with an SHC. CONCLUSIONS: Maximizing participation in DAs requires
minimizing SHCs in every instance. Understanding the association between SHCs and
DAs may facilitate targeted care resulting in less severe SHCs, greater
participation in DAs, and benefits to both the individual and society.

Langue : ANGLAIS