Abstract
Study design
Cross-sectional study.
Objectives
This study aimed to explore and report on health care and rehabilitation service utilization, rehabilitation service benefits, and levels of satisfaction of individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI) living in communities in Thailand.
Setting
Four rehabilitation facilities in Thailand, two university hospitals (Maharaj Nakorn Chiang Mai Hospital in Chiang Mai Province and Siriraj Hospital in Bangkok), one large provincial hospital (Ratchaburi Hospital in Ratchaburi Province), and one national rehabilitation institute (Sirindhorn National Medical Rehabilitation Institute in Nonthaburi Province).
Methods
This study was part of the International Spinal Cord Injury Community Survey (InSCI). Individuals with SCI completed a set of questionnaires, then data related to their health care and rehabilitation services were extracted and analyzed.
Results
Of the 320 participants, most were male (71%), and the majority were living with paraplegia (73%). In cases of mild illnesses where hospitalization was not required, 46% went to a nearby health service hospital. In cases of serious illnesses where hospitalization was required, 39% went to a higher-level hospital. The majority (80%) were satisfied with their experience with health care services. The three top preferred products and services in descending order were wheelchairs and cushions, increased disability pension, medication and medical equipment including bladder relaxants, urinary catheters and urine bags.
Conclusions
Individuals with SCI living in communities in Thailand preferred treatment at a nearby district hospital for mild illnesses with one-third transferring to a higher-level hospital for serious illnesses. The majority were satisfied with the health care services and rehabilitation services.
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Acknowledgements
This study used some methodological data from the article “The International Spinal Cord Injury Survey: The Way Forward” [28], which is a part of the project “Learning Health System for SCI Initiative (LHS-SCI)”. The LHS-SCI is an effort to implement the recommendations described in the World Health Organization report “International Perspectives on Spinal Cord Injury” [11]. The members of the InSCI Steering Committee are: J. Middleton, J Patrick Engkasan, G Stucki, M Brach, J Bickenbach, C Fekete, C Thyrian, L Battistella, J Li, B Perrouin-Verbe, C Gutenbrunner, C Rapidi, LK Wahyuni, M Zampolini, E Saitoh, BS Lee, A Juocevicius, N Hasnan, A Hajjioui, MWM Post, AC Martinsen, P Tederko, D Popa, C Joseph, M Avellanet, M Baumberger, A Kovindha, R Escorpizo.
Funding
The Thai Rehabilitation Medicine Association Research Grant Year 2017.
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AK was responsible for designing the research question, collecting and analyzing the data, drafting the manuscript and writing the final version of the manuscript. SP, PK, CC, NK and RM were responsible for designing the research question, collecting the data and commenting on the final version of the manuscript.
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Pattanakuhar, S., Kammuang-lue, P., Komaratat, N. et al. Health care and rehabilitation services utilization, benefits and satisfaction: a community survey of individuals with spinal cord injury in Thailand. Spinal Cord 60, 739–745 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41393-022-00777-y
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41393-022-00777-y
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