To work or not to work: labour market participation of people with spinal cord injury living in Switzerland

Abstract

Study design: Cross-sectional survey. Objectives: To establish labour market participation figures of persons with spinal cord injury (SCI) living in Switzerland and to investigate determinants and consequences of having paid work. Setting: Community. Methods: A survey among members of the Swiss Paraplegic Association was performed in 2008. Inclusion criteria were: SCI of traumatic or non-traumatic origin, minimum age of 18 years, and living in the community for at least 1 year. A total of 559 persons with SCI returned the questionnaire (response rate 27%), of which 495 (24%) fulfilled the eligibility criteria. Bivariate and logistic regression analyses were performed based on theoretical considerations and relevant determinants found in the literature. Results: Of the respondents of working age, 63.8% were involved in gainful employment. No significant difference between persons with para-and tetraplegia was observed. Logistic regression showed that employment was associated with age, time since onset of SCI, having worked at 2 years after initial rehabilitation, having received vocational counselling, having less pain, more years of education and more perceived importance of work. Working persons achieved a significantly higher total income. The most important reasons to work were not financial, but rather of social nature. Barriers to work were primarily health-related. Conclusions: We found a relatively high employment rate among the studied persons with SCI living in Switzerland. However, because of the low response, it is difficult to generalise this finding.

The association between chronological age, age at injury and employment: Is there a mediating effect of secondary health conditions?

“…These findings are consistent with other studies examining SHCs related to LMP. 11,12 Assuming that only severe SHCs influence LMP, we dichotomized the response categories of 'not experienced or insignificant problem'; 'mild or infrequent problem'; 'moderate or occasional problem'; 'significant or chronic problem' into 'significant or chronic problem (yes/no)'.…”

“…11,12 However, there is a lack of knowledge regarding the associations between chronological age, age at injury, SHCs and LMP. Clarifying the underlying relationships among these variables can inform the development of more targeted interventions to enhance LMP 7 and the prevention and treatment of SHCs to facilitate LMP.…”

Participation in sport in persons with spinal cord injury in Switzerland

“…A detailed description of the survey is reported by Marti et al 14 PiS was assessed with a single-item question asking participants about their frequency of PiS during a week respectively a month: 'How often do you perform sport (for at least half an hour)?' The five response options included 'less than several times a month' , 'several times a month' , 'once a week' , 'several times a week' and 'daily' .…”

Study Protocol of the International Spinal Cord Injury (InSCI) Community Survey

“…To ensure high scientific Flaccid tetraplegia G82. 4 Spastic tetraplegia G82. 5 Tetraplegia, unspecified G83.…”

“…1,2 In interaction with environmental factors and personal resources, an SCI may lead to lower participation in social and economic activities. 3,4 As a result, the lived experience of persons with SCI has increasingly become the focus of research, going beyond the description of one's health state into domains of functioning and disability, as characterized by the WHO's International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) 5 and summarized in the International Perspectives on SCI (IPSCI) report. 1 Weaknesses in health and rehabilitation systems can worsen the burden of disability and lead to poorer health outcomes; reduced well-being; and increased risk of poverty, dependence, and restricted participation.…”