Spinal cordPub Date : 2024-06-18DOI: 10.1038/s41393-024-01008-2
Christina Draganich, Dustin Anderson, Grant J. Dornan, Mitch Sevigny, Jeffrey Berliner, Susan Charlifue, Abigail Welch, Andrew Smith
{"title":"Predictive modeling of ambulatory outcomes after spinal cord injury using machine learning","authors":"Christina Draganich, Dustin Anderson, Grant J. Dornan, Mitch Sevigny, Jeffrey Berliner, Susan Charlifue, Abigail Welch, Andrew Smith","doi":"10.1038/s41393-024-01008-2","DOIUrl":"10.1038/s41393-024-01008-2","url":null,"abstract":"Retrospective multi-site cohort study. To develop an accurate machine learning predictive model using predictor variables from the acute rehabilitation period to determine ambulatory status in spinal cord injury (SCI) one year post injury. Model SCI System (SCIMS) database between January 2000 and May 2019. Retrospective cohort study using data that were previously collected as part of the SCI Model System (SCIMS) database. A total of 4523 patients were analyzed comparing traditional models (van Middendorp and Hicks) compared to machine learning algorithms including Elastic Net Penalized Logistic Regression (ENPLR), Gradient Boosted Machine (GBM), and Artificial Neural Networks (ANN). Compared with GBM and ANN, ENPLR was determined to be the preferred model based on predictive accuracy metrics, calibration, and variable selection. The primary metric to judge discrimination was the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC). When compared to the van Middendorp all patients (0.916), ASIA A and D (0.951) and ASIA B and C (0.775) and Hicks all patients (0.89), ASIA A and D (0.934) and ASIA B and C (0.775), ENPLR demonstrated improved AUC for all patients (0.931), ASIA A and D (0.965) ASIA B and C (0.803). Utilizing artificial intelligence and machine learning methods are feasible for accurately classifying outcomes in SCI and may provide improved sensitivity in identifying which individuals are less likely to ambulate and may benefit from augmentative strategies, such as neuromodulation. Future directions should include the use of additional variables to further refine these models.","PeriodicalId":21976,"journal":{"name":"Spinal cord","volume":"62 8","pages":"446-453"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2024-06-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141421031","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Classification of upper-limb dysfunction severity and prediction of independence in activities of daily living after cervical spinal-cord injury","authors":"Kazumasa Jimbo, Kazuhiro Miyata, Hiroshi Yuine, Kousuke Takahama, Tomohiro Yoshimura, Honoka Shiba, Taichi Yasumori, Naohisa Kikuchi, Hideki Shiraishi","doi":"10.1038/s41393-024-01005-5","DOIUrl":"10.1038/s41393-024-01005-5","url":null,"abstract":"Prospective observational study. Classification of spinal-cord injury and prediction of independence in activities of daily living (ADL) based on performance evaluations such as upper-limb function have not been reported. Therefore, this study aimed to establish a severity classification and calculate cutoff values for independence in ADL using the Capabilities of Upper Extremity Test (CUE-T) for individuals with cervical spinal-cord injury (CSCI). A spinal-cord injury rehabilitation center in Japan. This study included individuals with subacute CSCI. Collected data included the CUE-T and Spinal Cord Independence Measure III (SCIM III) scores. The severity classification was used for the hierarchical cluster analysis using the CUE-T. The cutoff values of CUE-T scores for independence in ADL were calculated using an adjustment model with logistic regression analysis. The dependent variable was binary (independent/non-independent) for each SCIM III Self-care item, and the independent variable was CUE-T. A total of 71 participants were included in the analysis. The severity of upper-limb dysfunction was classified into four categories using CUE-T. Significant differences in upper-limb function and ADL were observed between clusters. The cutoff values for CUE-T score for independence in ADL ranged from 37 to 91 points. All cutoff values showed good results in the internal validation, sensitivity analysis. This study determined the severity of upper limb function in CSCI and the cutoff values of CUE-T scores for independence in ADL. These results may help set criteria and goals for interventions in the clinical and research fields. None.","PeriodicalId":21976,"journal":{"name":"Spinal cord","volume":"62 9","pages":"507-513"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2024-06-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.nature.com/articles/s41393-024-01005-5.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141421030","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Spinal cordPub Date : 2024-06-13DOI: 10.1038/s41393-024-01007-3
Joshua W. Peiffer, Angela Philippus, Karen Kanaster, Kimberley R. Monden
{"title":"Understanding the association between perceived injustice, depression symptoms, and stigma in individuals with traumatic spinal cord injury","authors":"Joshua W. Peiffer, Angela Philippus, Karen Kanaster, Kimberley R. Monden","doi":"10.1038/s41393-024-01007-3","DOIUrl":"10.1038/s41393-024-01007-3","url":null,"abstract":"This is a secondary analysis of data from a cross-sectional, observational study. The study aimed to determine whether stigma mediates the relationship between preceived injustice and depression symptoms among individuals with spinal cord injuries. Secondary analysis of participants enrolled in the Spinal Cord Injury Model System at a specialty rehabilitation hospital in the Western United States. A sample of 225 participants completed the questionnaires; eight participants were removed due to incomplete data, resulting in a final sample size of 217 participants (79% male; 21% female). Participants were, on average, 53 years old and were predominantly male, white, and 20 years post-injury. A bootstrapping mediation analysis was conducted to evaluate the stigma-mediated relationship between injustice appraisals and depression symptoms. Injustice appraisals were assessed using the Injustice Experience Questionnaire, stigma with the Spinal Cord Injury Quality of Life Stigma–Short Form, and depression symptoms with the Patient Health Questionnaire–9. Stigma was found to mediate the relationship between injustice appraisals and depression, with an estimated proportion mediated of 80.9% (p ≤ 0.0001). This study provides a novel finding that the relationship between injustice appraisals and depression symptoms is mediated by stigma. Consistent with previous research, injustice appraisals were associated with greater severity of depression symptoms. Results provide further evidence for the role of injustice appraisals after spinal cord injury and a potential mechanism (i.e., stigma) by which it may exert its effect on depression symptoms.","PeriodicalId":21976,"journal":{"name":"Spinal cord","volume":"62 8","pages":"440-445"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2024-06-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141318308","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Spinal cordPub Date : 2024-06-10DOI: 10.1038/s41393-024-01001-9
Michael G. Fehlings
{"title":"From the desk of Spinal Cord’s New Editor","authors":"Michael G. Fehlings","doi":"10.1038/s41393-024-01001-9","DOIUrl":"10.1038/s41393-024-01001-9","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":21976,"journal":{"name":"Spinal cord","volume":"62 5","pages":"199-199"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2024-06-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.nature.com/articles/s41393-024-01001-9.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141301680","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Spinal cordPub Date : 2024-06-07DOI: 10.1038/s41393-024-01004-6
Xin Wang, Chun-Gu Hong, Ran Duan, Zhi-Lin Pang, Min-Na Zhang, Hui Xie, Zheng-Zhao Liu
{"title":"Transplantation of olfactory mucosa mesenchymal stromal cells repairs spinal cord injury by inducing microglial polarization","authors":"Xin Wang, Chun-Gu Hong, Ran Duan, Zhi-Lin Pang, Min-Na Zhang, Hui Xie, Zheng-Zhao Liu","doi":"10.1038/s41393-024-01004-6","DOIUrl":"10.1038/s41393-024-01004-6","url":null,"abstract":"Animal studies To evaluate the therapeutic effect of olfactory mucosa mesenchymal stem cell (OM-MSCs) transplantation in mice with spinal cord injury (SCI) and to explore the mechanism by which OM-MSCs inhibit neuroinflammation and improve SCI. Xiangya Hospital, Central South University; Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Medical University. Mice (C57BL/6, female, 6-week-old) were randomly divided into sham, SCI, and SCI + OM-MSC groups. The SCI mouse model was generated using Allen’s method. OM-MSCs were immediately delivered to the lateral ventricle after SCI using stereotaxic brain injections. One day prior to injury and on days 1, 5, 7, 14, 21, and 28 post-injury, the Basso Mouse Scale and Rivlin inclined plate tests were performed. Inflammation and microglial polarization were evaluated using histological staining, immunofluorescence, and qRT-PCR. OM-MSCs originating from the neuroectoderm have great potential in the management of SCI owing to their immunomodulatory effects. OM-MSCs administration improved motor function, alleviated inflammation, promoted the transformation of the M1 phenotype of microglia into the M2 phenotype, facilitated axonal regeneration, and relieved spinal cord injury in SCI mice. OM-MSCs reduced the level of inflammation in the spinal cord tissue, protected neurons, and repaired spinal cord injury by regulating the M1/M2 polarization of microglia.","PeriodicalId":21976,"journal":{"name":"Spinal cord","volume":"62 8","pages":"429-439"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2024-06-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141288692","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Spinal cordPub Date : 2024-06-01DOI: 10.1038/s41393-024-01000-w
Qunya Qi, Ling Wang, Beining Yang, Yulong Jia, Yu Wang, Haotian Xin, Weimin Zheng, Xin Chen, Qian Chen, Fang Li, Jubao Du, Jie Lu, Nan Chen
{"title":"The relationship between the structural changes in the cervical spinal cord and sensorimotor function of children with thoracolumbar spinal cord injury (TLSCI)","authors":"Qunya Qi, Ling Wang, Beining Yang, Yulong Jia, Yu Wang, Haotian Xin, Weimin Zheng, Xin Chen, Qian Chen, Fang Li, Jubao Du, Jie Lu, Nan Chen","doi":"10.1038/s41393-024-01000-w","DOIUrl":"10.1038/s41393-024-01000-w","url":null,"abstract":"Cross-sectional study. To study the relationship between the structural changes in the cervical spinal cord (C2/3 level) and the sensorimotor function of children with traumatic thoracolumbar spinal cord injury (TLSCI) and to discover objective imaging biomarkers to evaluate its functional status. Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, China; Beijing Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Brain Informatics, China. 30 children (age range 5–13 years) with TLSCI and 11 typically developing (TD) children (age range 6–12 years) were recruited in this study. Based on whether there is preserved motor function below the neurological level of injury (NLI), the children with TLSCI are divided into the AIS A/B group (motor complete) and the AIS C/D group (motor incomplete). A Siemens Verio 3.0 T MR scanner was used to acquire 3D high-resolution anatomic scans covering the head and upper cervical spinal cord. Morphologic parameters of the spinal cord at the C2/3 level, including cross-sectional area (CSA), anterior-posterior width (APW), and left-right width (LRW) were obtained using the spinal cord toolbox (SCT; https://www.nitrc.org/projects/sct ). Correlation analyses were performed to compare the morphologic spinal cord parameters and clinical scores determined by the International Standard for Neurological Classification of Spinal Cord Injuries (ISNCSCI) examination. CSA and LRW in the AIS A/B group were significantly lower than those in the TD group and the AIS C/D group. LRW was the most sensitive imaging biomarker to differentiate the AIS A/B group from the AIS C/D group. Both CSA and APW were positively correlated with ISNCSCI sensory scores. Quantitative measurement of the morphologic spinal cord parameters of the cervical spinal cord can be used as an objective imaging biomarker to evaluate the neurological function of children with TLSCI. Cervical spinal cord atrophy in children after TLSCI was correlated with clinical grading; CSA and APW can reflect sensory function. Meanwhile, LRW has the potential to be an objective imaging biomarker for evaluating motor function preservation.","PeriodicalId":21976,"journal":{"name":"Spinal cord","volume":"62 7","pages":"414-420"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2024-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.nature.com/articles/s41393-024-01000-w.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141186939","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Spinal cordPub Date : 2024-05-29DOI: 10.1038/s41393-024-00999-2
Arrani Senthinathan, Mina Tadrous, Swaleh Hussain, Sandra McKay, Rahim Moineddin, Cherry Chu, Susan B. Jaglal, John Shepherd, Lauren Cadel, Vanessa K. Noonan, B. Catharine Craven, Karen Tu, Sara J. T. Guilcher
{"title":"Examining the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on homecare services among individuals with traumatic and non-traumatic spinal cord injuries","authors":"Arrani Senthinathan, Mina Tadrous, Swaleh Hussain, Sandra McKay, Rahim Moineddin, Cherry Chu, Susan B. Jaglal, John Shepherd, Lauren Cadel, Vanessa K. Noonan, B. Catharine Craven, Karen Tu, Sara J. T. Guilcher","doi":"10.1038/s41393-024-00999-2","DOIUrl":"10.1038/s41393-024-00999-2","url":null,"abstract":"Descriptive repeated-cross sectional retrospective longitudinal cohort study. To investigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on homecare services in individuals with traumatic or non-traumatic Spinal Cord Injury (SCI). Health administrative database in Ontario, Canada. A repeated cross-sectional study using linked health administrative databases from March 2015 to June 2022. Monthly homecare utilization was assessed in 3381 adults with SCI using Autoregressive Integrated Moving Average (ARIMA) models. Compared to pre-pandemic levels, between March 2020 to June 2022, the traumatic group experienced a decrease in personal and/or homemaking services, as well as an increase in nursing visits from April 2020–March 2022 and June 2022. Case management increased at various times for the traumatic group, however therapies decreased in May 2020 only. The non-traumatic group experienced a decrease in personal and/or homemaking services in July 2020, as well as an increase in nursing visits from March 2020 to February 2021 and sporadically throughout 2020. Case management also increased at certain points for the non-traumatic group, but therapies decreased in April 2020, July 2020, and September 2021. The traumatic group had decreases in personal and/or homemaking services. Both groups had increases in nursing services, increases in case management, and minimal decreases in therapies at varying times during the pandemic. Investigation is warranted to understand the root cause of these changes, and if they resulted in adverse outcomes.","PeriodicalId":21976,"journal":{"name":"Spinal cord","volume":"62 7","pages":"406-413"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2024-05-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141172043","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Spinal cordPub Date : 2024-05-28DOI: 10.1038/s41393-024-00997-4
Samantha J. Borg, David N. Borg, Mohit Arora, James W. Middleton, Ruth Marshall, Andrew Nunn, Timothy Geraghty
{"title":"Unmet healthcare needs, access to services and experiences with health providers among persons with spinal cord injury in Australia","authors":"Samantha J. Borg, David N. Borg, Mohit Arora, James W. Middleton, Ruth Marshall, Andrew Nunn, Timothy Geraghty","doi":"10.1038/s41393-024-00997-4","DOIUrl":"10.1038/s41393-024-00997-4","url":null,"abstract":"Cross-sectional survey. Appropriate and timely lifelong access to healthcare following a spinal cord injury (SCI) is critical, yet unmet healthcare needs in this population are common. Poor experiences with healthcare providers can be a barrier to health-seeking behaviour, and we hypothesised that there would be an association between unmet healthcare needs and care experiences. This study aimed to: (1) describe healthcare provider utilisation in the past year, unmet care needs and satisfaction with healthcare services; (2) explore the association between experiences with healthcare providers and unmet healthcare needs; and (3) explore the association between healthcare provider utilisation and participant characteristics, including unmet healthcare needs. Community. Analysis of data for 1579 Australians aged ≥ 18, who were ≥ 1-year post-SCI and living in the community. Bayesian penalised regression was used to model six binary outcomes: unmet healthcare needs; the use of general practitioners (GPs), allied health practitioners, rehabilitation specialists; medical specialists; and hospitalisations in the past 12-months. Unmet needs were reported by 17% of participants, with service cost the common deterrent. There was evidence of an effect for provider experiences on unmet healthcare needs, but no evidence that unmet healthcare needs was associated with the use of GPs, allied health practitioners, and rehabilitation or medical specialists. Unmet healthcare needs were reported in the context of high healthcare use and large proportions of secondary conditions in a cohort with long-term SCI. Improved health access for people with SCI include better primary-secondary care collaboration is needed.","PeriodicalId":21976,"journal":{"name":"Spinal cord","volume":"62 7","pages":"396-405"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2024-05-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.nature.com/articles/s41393-024-00997-4.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141162714","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Spinal cordPub Date : 2024-05-15DOI: 10.1038/s41393-024-00996-5
Peter Francis Raguindin, Oche Adam Itodo, Inge Eriks-Hoogland, Taulant Muka, Mirjam Brach, Gerold Stucki, Jivko Stoyanov, Marija Glisic
{"title":"Does cardiometabolic risk profile differ among individuals with traumatic and non-traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI): the evidence from the multicenter SCI cohort in Switzerland (SwiSCI)","authors":"Peter Francis Raguindin, Oche Adam Itodo, Inge Eriks-Hoogland, Taulant Muka, Mirjam Brach, Gerold Stucki, Jivko Stoyanov, Marija Glisic","doi":"10.1038/s41393-024-00996-5","DOIUrl":"10.1038/s41393-024-00996-5","url":null,"abstract":"Longitudinal study. To explore whether individuals with traumatic spinal cord injury (TSCI) and non-traumatic SCI (NTSCI) experience different trajectories in changes of cardiometabolic disease (CMD) factors during initial rehabilitation stay. Multicenter Swiss Spinal Cord Injury Cohort (SwiSCI) study. Individuals without history of cardiovascular diseases were included. CMD factors and Framingham risk score (FRS) were compared between TSCI and NTSCI. Linear mixed models’ analysis was employed to explore the trajectory in CMD factors changes over rehabilitation period and a multivariate linear regression analysis was used at discharge from inpatient rehabilitation to explore factors associated with CMD risk profile in TSCI and NTSCI. We performed age and sex-stratified analyses. We analyzed 530 individuals with SCI (64% with TSCI and 36% NTSCI). The median age was 53 years (IQR:39-64) with 67.9% (n = 363) of the study cohort being male. The median rehabilitation duration was 4.4 months (IQR 2.4-6.4). At admission to rehabilitation, FRS (9.61 vs. 5.89) and prevalence of hypertension (33.16% vs. 13.62%), diabetes (13.68% vs. 4.06%), and obesity (79.05% vs. 66.67%) were higher in NTSCI as compared to TSCI, No difference was observed in cardiometabolic syndrome between the groups (around 40% in both groups). Overall, we observed longitudinal increases in total cholesterol, HDL-C and HDL/total cholesterol ratio, and a decrease in fasting glucose over the rehabilitation period. No differences in longitudinal changes in cardiovascular risk factors were observed between TSCI and NTSCI. There was no deterioration in cardiometabolic risk factors over rehabilitation period, at discharge from initial rehabilitation stay. Both TSCI and NTSCI experienced high burden of cardiometabolic syndrome components with NTSCI experiencing more disadvantageous risk profile. The effectiveness of therapeutic and lifestyle/behavioral strategies to decrease burden of cardiometabolic disease and its components in early phase should be explored in future studies.","PeriodicalId":21976,"journal":{"name":"Spinal cord","volume":"62 7","pages":"387-395"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2024-05-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.nature.com/articles/s41393-024-00996-5.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140940999","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Spinal cordPub Date : 2024-04-23DOI: 10.1038/s41393-024-00990-x
Sanna-Mari Saarimäki, Paula Reiterä, Anni Täckman, Jari Arokoski, Aki Vainionpää, Mauri Kallinen, Susanna Tallqvist, Eerika Koskinen, Harri Hämäläinen, Anna-Maija Kauppila, Heidi Anttila, Sinikka Hiekkala
{"title":"Environmental barriers perceived by the Finnish population with spinal cord injury: a cross-sectional survey","authors":"Sanna-Mari Saarimäki, Paula Reiterä, Anni Täckman, Jari Arokoski, Aki Vainionpää, Mauri Kallinen, Susanna Tallqvist, Eerika Koskinen, Harri Hämäläinen, Anna-Maija Kauppila, Heidi Anttila, Sinikka Hiekkala","doi":"10.1038/s41393-024-00990-x","DOIUrl":"10.1038/s41393-024-00990-x","url":null,"abstract":"Cross-sectional survey of the Finnish population with spinal cord injury (SCI). To explore the frequencies of perceived environmental barriers (EB) that made participation harder for the Finnish population with SCI and to compare the occurrence of perceived EBs by gender, age, time since injury, and injury severity. Participants were recruited from the registers of the three SCI outpatient clinics responsible for the lifelong care of people with SCI in Finland. The self-administered Nottwil Environmental Factors Inventory Short Form (NEFI-SF) collected in the Finnish Spinal Cord Injury Study (FinSCI) (n = 1772) was used. Nonparametric tests and multinomial logistic regression models were utilized. 880 individuals responded to the NEFI-SF items (response rate 50%). Climate was perceived as a barrier by 72% and a serious one by 44% of the respondents. The rates regarding public access were 59% and 24%, private home access 46% and 18%, and long-distance transport 45% and 20%. Four out of ten respondents reported that finances, lack of assistive devices for short-distance transport, and political decisions restricted their participation. The NEFI-SF total scores were higher (meaning more perceived restrictions by EBs) for those more severely injured. Climate, access to public and private places, challenges with transport, finances, and political decisions were the EBs most frequently perceived to restrict participation by the Finnish population with SCI. Most EBs that were prominent causes of restrictions are modifiable. Greater accessibility to the built environment, equal services to all, and positive special treatment could reduce their effects.","PeriodicalId":21976,"journal":{"name":"Spinal cord","volume":"62 6","pages":"348-355"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2024-04-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.nature.com/articles/s41393-024-00990-x.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140667631","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}