Productivity outcomes of individuals with spinal cord injury

Study Design: Cross-sectional study by mail survey of participation in prod uctive activities of individuals who sustained a spinal cord injury (SCI) i n Quebec from 1970 to 1993. Objectives: To determine the level of productivity outcomes of a representa tive sample and to determine the relationship between the productivity outc omes and some personal and environmental variables. Settings: Quebec, Canada. Methods: Four hundred and eighteen subjects (mean of age = 42.1 +/- 11.8) w ere included in this study. Overall productivity was assessed by the partic ipation into five categories of activities (gainful employment, studies, ho memaking and family activities, community organizations and leisure activit ies). Results: Depending on the severity of injury, 30% to 51% of the variance in productivity outcomes can be explained by a set of ten variables: educatio n. ability to drive a car vehicle, other transportation indices, age relate d variables and type of locomotion. A discriminant analysis was undertaken to classify the subjects into three levels of productivity (low, moderate a nd high). The percentage of subjects correctly classified was moderate (54% to 71%) to high (72% to 81%) depending on the productivity levels. Conclusion: The results confirm the significant contribution of education a nd transportation to explain the productivity outcomes. Sponsorship: This project was funded by the 'Societe d'Assurance Automobile du Quebec', the 'Commission de la Sante et de la Securite du Travail' and the 'Fondation Andre Senecal'.