Perceptions of Veterans Suffering from Spinal Cord Injury Regarding Participation in Daily Activities and the Impact of the Lesion on the Extent of Participation

Assessing the level of participation in one’s personal and social life and perceived problems associated with the extent to which a person can participate is widely regarded as a good indicator of health level. This study aimed to evaluate the perception of individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI) of their participation in daily life, to determine the association between participation and its associated perceived problems, and to investigate the effect of parameters such as age and gender on the perceived problems related to participation among veterans with SCI. In this descriptive cross-sectional study, 100 veterans who were members of the association of patients with SCI in Tehran, Iran, were selected via a simple randomization method. Data were collected using the Impact on Participation and Autonomy questionnaire developed by Cardol et al. Investigators were referred to the participants’ houses to complete interviews. SPSS, version 16, was used for data analysis. More than 80% of veterans reported that their participation in social relations, and more than 60% reported that their domestic independence was good or very good. Weak and very weak participations were reported in the areas of family life, autonomy outside the house, work, and education. Veterans believed that lesion most affected their participation in formal or voluntary work and mobility. Access to social support had the greatest role in predicting participation and perceived problems associated with participation compared to other demographic variables. In programs designed to enhance the participation and independency of veterans, it is necessary to direct special attention to the areas of family life, independence in the home, work and education, mobility, and occupational issues. Access to adequate social support can play an important role in improving veterans’ understanding of participation and reducing the associated problems