Labour market participation after spinal cord injury. A register-based cohort study

Spinal Cord, 2023 · DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41393-023-00876-4 · Published: January 30, 2023

Spinal Cord Injury Occupational Health Rehabilitation

Simple Explanation

This study examined how spinal cord injury (SCI) affects a person's ability to participate in the labor market. It compared individuals with SCI to a control group without SCI, looking at employment, education, income, and social security benefits over six years. The study found that people with SCI had a significantly lower rate of employment compared to the control group. However, a notable portion of individuals with SCI remained employed, often in combination with receiving benefits. Factors such as the severity of the SCI, education level, age at the time of injury, and previous employment history all influenced a person's likelihood of returning to work after SCI.

Study Duration

Up to six years

Participants

451 persons with SCI and 1791 matched controls

Evidence Level

Not specified

Key Findings

1
SCI substantially decreased labour market participation up to six years after injury compared to matched controls.
2
Among persons with SCI, less severe neurological outcome, higher level of education, younger age at injury, and a stronger pre-injury attachment to employment were associated with higher labour market participation.
3
Even if a relatively large proportion of persons with SCI remained in some degree of work activity, more than half did so in combination with receiving beneﬁts.

Research Summary

This register-based cohort study investigated labour market participation following spinal cord injury (SCI) in Norway, comparing 451 individuals with SCI to 1791 matched controls over a six-year period. The study found that individuals with SCI experienced a substantial decrease in labour market participation compared to controls, with a significant proportion relying on sickness and disability benefits in addition to any employment income. Factors such as neurological outcome, education level, age at injury, and pre-injury employment status were identified as key determinants of labour market participation among individuals with SCI.

Practical Implications

Vocational Re-training

Emphasize vocational re-training towards jobs requiring higher education to increase employment opportunities.

Workplace Adaptations

Implement more flexible workplace adaptations to support individuals with SCI in maintaining employment.

Employer Incentives

Develop employer incentives to encourage the hiring and retention of individuals with SCI.

Study Limitations

1
Registry data provide limited information on personal characteristics (including health status) to be used as adjustment variables in the regression analyses.
2
Only persons with SCI that received pay for work in the year before injury were included in this study, which means that the results are not generalizable to all persons with SCI.
3
The comparisons between the SCI sample and control sample must therefore be interpreted with caution.

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