Psychosocial outcomes following spinal cord injury in Iran

Abstract

Objective/background: In patients with spinal cord injury (SCI), SCI causes psychosocial complications that vary based on culture, conditions, and the amenities of each community. Health planners and social services should have full knowledge of these issues in order to plan schedules that address them. In this study, we aimed to understand the psychosocial problems of persons with SCI in Iran and to explore the requirements for minimizing these difficulties. Design: This was a descriptive cross-sectional study. Setting: Brain and Spinal Cord Injury Research (BASIR) Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. Participants: One hundred nineteen persons with SCI referred to BASIR clinic to receive outpatient rehabilitation. Methods: In this study, trained interviewers administered a questionnaire to the participants. The questionnaire consisted of socio-demographic variables and psychosocial questions about finances, employment, housing, education, and social communication problems. Results: Psychosocial problems for persons with SCI are mainly associated with financial hardship due to unemployment and the high cost of living, followed by difficulties with transportation, house modification, education, marriage, social communication, sports, and entertainment. Psychological problems include sadness, depression, irritability/anger, suicidal thoughts, and a lack of self-confidence. The levels of the aforementioned problems differ with respect to sex. Conclusion: Persons suffering from SCI can face some serious psychosocial problems that may vary according to sex. For example, transportation difficulties can lead to problems such as unsociability. After recognizing these problems, the next step would be providing services to facilitate a productive lifestyle, enhancing social communication and psychological health, and ultimately creating a higher quality of life.

Effective Teaching Strategies for Patient Education in Individuals With Spinal Cord Injury in Iran

“…In Iran, similar to other countries, individuals with early onset SCI are depressed and may be unready to learn new information (4). Therefore, they could not learn the required information during stay in hospitals or inpatient rehabilitation.…”

“…Individuals with SCI have a high lifelong risk for debilitating and costly medical conditions, such as urinary tract infections, pressure ulcers, pain, spasticity, increased body mass index, respiratory and cardiac complications, depression and psychosocial outcomes (2)(3)(4)(5)(6)(7)(8).…”

How Do Iranian People with Spinal Cord Injury Understand Marriage?

“…Employment can be another major concern. 13 Impaired sexuality, however, may be the adverse sequela most feared by people with SCI. Matters related to sexuality are a considerable source of anxiety among persons with SCI 14 and may cause them to postpose marriage or even relegate it to their last priority.…”

Depression Following Spinal Cord Injury: Its Relationship to Demographic and Socioeconomic Indicators

“…18 Even low levels of depression can affect health, daily activities, and interpersonal relationships. 16,19 Given the high prevalence and negative impact of depression in individuals with SCI, early identification and treatment are important to reduce unnecessary suffering and impairment. 20 There are many articles about depression in individuals with SCI, but the literature includes few examinations of the relationship between socioeconomic factors and depression in this population.…”

“…5 The prevalence of probable depression after SCI ranges from 9.8% to 63.9% among inpatients and people living in the community. 2,[5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13] Depression symptoms are associated with many problems among individuals with SCI including lower functional independence, 14 more secondary complications, 15 less community and social integration, 11,16 and a lower mean American…”