Barriers for individuals with spinal cord injury returning to the community: a preliminary classification. 

 -  2012 
<br/><br/> BACKGROUND: With decreased length of stay for inpatient rehabilitation, individuals with newly acquired spinal cord injury (SCI) might be discharged back into the community without the level of knowledge and functional skills necessary to live successfully post injury. This research studied the course of recovery and outcomes after the delivery of a coordinated inpatient rehabilitation system of care for individuals with SCI.  CONCLUSION: Our findings provide a preliminary classification of the barriers newly injured persons with SCI encounter during the post-acute period. Copyright  2012 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.  METHODS: This 1-year study is the qualitative arm of a randomized controlled pilot study. Twenty-six people with SCI participated (mean age 40.6 years, 81% male and 54% tetraplegic). Self-reported data were collected during the first year post discharge from inpatient rehabilitation.  OBJECTIVE: Individuals with newly acquired SCI face numerous barriers during reintegration into the community. The purpose of this article is to identify and develop a preliminary classification of barriers to community reintegration that persons with SCI experience during the post-acute period.  RESULTS: The three most common categories of self-reported barriers were mobility and equipment issues (23%), lack of environmental, and home assistance (20%), and insurance issues (18%). The two most common specific barriers were lack of insurance coverage (6.5% of all reported barriers) and residing in a nursing home (5.4%). 
<br/><br/><br/>English 
<br/><br/><label>Subjects--Topical Terms: </label><br/>*Activities of Daily Living<br/>*Delivery of Health Care/st [Standards]<br/>*Health Services/st [Standards]<br/>*Hospitalization<br/>*Patient Discharge<br/>*Residence Characteristics<br/>*Spinal Cord Injuries/rh [Rehabilitation]<br/>Adolescent<br/>Adult<br/>Aged<br/>Aged, 80 and over<br/>Environment Design<br/>Equipment and Supplies<br/>Female<br/>Home Care Services<br/>Humans<br/>Insurance<br/>Male<br/>Middle Aged<br/>Mobility Limitation<br/>Nursing Homes<br/>Pilot Projects<br/>Young Adult
<br/><br/><label>Subjects--Geographic Terms: </label><br/>MedStar National Rehabilitation Network<br/>MedStar Washington Hospital Center
<br/><br/><label>Index Terms--Occupation: </label><br/>Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
<br/><br/><label>Index Terms--Function: </label><br/>Journal Article<br/>Randomized Controlled Trial<br/>Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural<br/>Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't<br/>Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.