Factors Influencing Activities of Daily Living in the Patients with Spinal Cord Injury

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to obtain and access baseline data and factors influencing activities of daily living(ADL) in the patients with spinal cord injury(SCI). METHOD: 65 complete SCI patients who were admitted to the Wonju Christian and Severance hospital from January 1990 to february 1998 were studied. A questionnaire contained 15 items of ADL and factors such as cause, level, age and sex distribution, duration, employment status, religious status, medical payment, income source and complications. We compared each level of SCI according to each variables. RESULTS: The income source and employment status were associated with adjustment of ADL in patients with SCI. CONCLUSION: Financial independence was the most important factor to improve adjustment of ADL in patients with SCI.