The Second International Spinal Cord Injury (InSCI) Community Survey in Thailand: Overview of Bio-Psycho-Social Perspectives of Individuals with Spinal Cord Injury

Apichana  Kovindha; Pratchayapon Kammuang-lue; Tulaya Dissaneewate; Chayaporn Chotiyarnwong; Napasakorn Komaratate; Surangkhana Insook; Thai InSCI Research team

Authors

Apichana Kovindha Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2229-560X
Pratchayapon Kammuang-lue Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2445-4475
Tulaya Dissaneewate Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Prince of Songkla University, Songkhla, Thailand. https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2947-0375
Chayaporn Chotiyarnwong Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5622-9811
Napasakorn Komaratate Sirindhorn National Medical Rehabilitation Institute, Department of Medical Services, Ministry of Public Health, Nonthaburi, Thailand.
Surangkhana Insook Sunpasitthiprasong Hospital, Ministry of Public Health, Ubon Ratchathani, Thailand.
Thai InSCI Research team

Keywords:

spinal cord injury, secondary health conditions, rehabilitation, socioeconomic status, surveys and questionnaires

Abstract

Objectives: To describe the health status, socioeconomic cha-racteristics, and spinal cord injury (SCI) profiles of individuals with SCI living in the community in Thailand

Study design: Descriptive cross-sectional study

Setting: Fourteen hospitals across Thailand

Participant: Thai individuals with SCI living in the community who had previously received rehabilitation at participating hospitals and who met the inclusion criteria were invited to participate in the second International Spinal Cord Injury (InSCI) community survey in Thailand.

Methods: Participants completed the Thai-translated version of the second InSCI questionnaire. After data cleaning, bio-psycho-social aspects were analyzed descriptively.

Results: A total of 693 respondents were included. Most participants were male (74.9%), paraplegic (65.4%), and had incomplete lesions (65.4%), with traumatic causes (79.2%). The median age at the time of the survey was 49 years (IQR: 38-62), and the median duration of SCI was 8 years (IQR: 5-14). Nearly half were married or cohabiting (46.9%), 64.1% needed assistance, and 55.7% lived in urban areas. Over half (51.4%) had completed secondary education, while 64.5% reported a household income below 17,200 baht per month. Most respondents were covered by the Thai universal health coverage scheme (68.4%), and 51.1% were satisfied with their general health. The three most prevalent secondary health conditions were spasticity (77.5%), pain (71.1%), and bowel problems (70.4%). The percentage of receiving treatment was lowest for sexual problems (12.8%).

Conclusions: The majority of Thais with SCI in the community had traumatic, incomplete paraplegics, experienced multiple secondary health conditions, reported low socioeconomic status, needed assistance, and only half were satisfied with their overall health

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