INCEPTION COHORT OF THE SWISS SPINAL CORD INJURY COHORT STUDY (SwiSCI): DESIGN, PARTICIPANT CHARACTERISTICS, RESPONSE RATES AND NON-RESPONSE

Journal of Rehabilitation Medicine, 2021 · DOI: 10.2340/16501977-2795 · Published: February 11, 2021

Spinal Cord Injury Rehabilitation Research Methodology & Design

Simple Explanation

The inception cohort of the Swiss Spinal Cord Injury Cohort Study (SwiSCI) is a prospective study including newly diagnosed first rehabilitation patients aged over 16 years with traumatic or non-traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI) who received first rehabilitation in a specialized center in Switzerland. This paper describes the methods and the design of the SwiSCI inception cohort and reports on participant characteristics, response rates and differences between respondents and non-respondents. The response rate was 47.5% and 655 patients participated in the study. Of participants, 69.0% were male, mean age was 53.5 years, 57.9% had traumatic SCI, 60.7% paraplegia and 78.8% incomplete SCI.

Study Duration

May 2013 to September 2020

Participants

655 newly diagnosed first rehabilitation patients aged ≥16 years with traumatic or non-traumatic spinal cord injury

Evidence Level

Prospective cohort study

Key Findings

1
Males and younger persons more often sustained TSCI and more severe SCI, resulting in longer duration of rehabilitation.
2
Complete lesions were more prevalent in TSCI compared with non-traumatic SCI.
3
Females, older persons, persons with lower functional independence and those with non-traumatic SCI were less likely to participate in the study.

Research Summary

The SwiSCI inception cohort is a prospective observational cohort study that collects a wide-range of demographic, biopsychosocial, clinical parameters and biological samples from persons newly diagnosed with traumatic or non-traumatic spinal cord injury (TSCI, NTSCI), who are receiving specialized first rehabilitation in Switzerland Given that SCI is a life-altering condition with a sudden onset, which requires specialized inpatient rehabilitation, the sensitive phase early after injury and the related first rehabilitation often has a critical impact on the long-term development of health conditions, functioning and well-being In summary, the SwiSCI inception cohort is a research platform that provides a sound basis to estimate key epidemiological figures regarding SCI in Switzerland (i.e. incidence, all-cause and cause-specific mortality) and to build prognostic models on health, functioning and well-being over the life course of people with SCI to guide policy, service provision and clinical practice.

Practical Implications

Guide Policy

The data can be used to guide policy related to spinal cord injuries in Switzerland.

Service Provision

Findings inform service provision for individuals with spinal cord injuries.

Clinical Practice

The cohort study guides clinical practice in the treatment and rehabilitation of SCI patients.

INCEPTION COHORT OF THE SWISS SPINAL CORD INJURY COHORT STUDY (SwiSCI): DESIGN, PARTICIPANT CHARACTERISTICS, RESPONSE RATES AND NON-RESPONSE

Simple Explanation

Key Findings

Research Summary

Practical Implications

Guide Policy

Service Provision

Clinical Practice

Study Limitations

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INCEPTION COHORT OF THE SWISS SPINAL CORD INJURY COHORT STUDY (SwiSCI): DESIGN, PARTICIPANT CHARACTERISTICS, RESPONSE RATES AND NON-RESPONSE

Simple Explanation

Key Findings

Research Summary

Practical Implications

Guide Policy

Service Provision

Clinical Practice

Study Limitations

Your Feedback

Was this summary helpful?