The prevalence and influencing factors of remunerative employment in people with chronic spinal cord injury in a middle-income country: Analysis of the Thai International Spinal Cord Injury Community Survey database

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Pattanakuhar, Sintip^{a; b; *} | Kammuang-lue, Pratchayapon^a | Srisuppaphon, Donruedee^c | Chotiyarnwong, Chayaporn^d | Kovindha, Apichana^a | Schwegler, Urban^{b; e}

Affiliations: [a] Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand | [b] Swiss Paraplegic Research, Nottwil, Switzerland | [c] Department of Medical Services, Sirindhorn National Medical Rehabilitation Institute, Ministry of Health, Nonthaburi, Thailand | [d] Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand | [e] Department of Health Sciences and Medicine, University of Lucerne, Lucerne, Switzerland

Correspondence: [*] Address for correspondence: Sintip Pattanakuhar, Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, 110 Intawarorot Road, Sri Phoom, Muang, Chiang Mai, Thailand. E-mail: [email protected].

Abstract: BACKGROUND:Remunerative employment (RE) is one of the optimal rehabilitation goals for people with spinal cord injury (SCI). However, there has been no study systematically determine the RE status and its related factors in Thais with chronic SCI. OBJECTIVE:To cross-sectionally determine RE statuses and their influencing factors in Thais with chronic SCI. METHODS:Data from a Thai arm of the International Spinal Cord Injury Community Survey (InSCI) were analyzed. The prevalence of RE and related work status were described. RESULTS:Of 223 individuals with chronic SCI whose age was less than 60 years included in this study, 79 (35%) were remunerative employed. Most of them (41, 54%) were self-employed. The most common reason for unemployment was related to health conditions or disabilities. Education year, attending vocational rehabilitation service, and admission≥2 times per year were independent influencing factors of RE with an odds ratio of 1.090, 2.534, and 0.418, respectively. CONCLUSION:Since education and vocational rehabilitation were the modifiable positive influencing factor of employment, educational and vocational rehabilitation programs should be formally established and universally applied together with medical rehabilitation to increase the prevalence of RE in people with SCI in Thailand.

Keywords: Spinal cord injury, remunerative employment, return to work, labor market, InSCI

DOI: 10.3233/JVR-240035

Journal: Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation, vol. 61, no. 2, pp. 253-264, 2024