Planning and Structuring Spinal Cord Injury Rehabilitation: The Needs Assessment Checklist

Top Spinal Cord Inj Rehabil, 2012 · DOI: 10.1310/sci1802-135 · Published: January 1, 2012

Spinal Cord Injury Rehabilitation Research Methodology & Design

Simple Explanation

The study evaluates the Needs Assessment Checklist (NAC) for spinal cord injury (SCI) rehabilitation, emphasizing its use in structuring rehabilitation and goal planning. The NAC considers various factors, including physical health, daily living activities, psychological issues, and discharge coordination, ensuring a tailored rehabilitation approach. The NAC's reliability and effectiveness in structuring rehabilitation, by identifying areas needing support and achievements, and integrating this into individual goal plans, are highlighted.

Study Duration

September 2007 to November 2009

Participants

193 patients

Evidence Level

Not specified

Key Findings

1
The Needs Assessment Checklist (NAC) demonstrated high internal consistency and acceptable internal validity.
2
The NAC subscales showed significant change between administrations, indicating sensitivity to rehabilitation progress.
3
Psychological issues and pain severity were significantly related to rehabilitation outcomes, influencing ADL, skin care, mobility, and overall progress.

Research Summary

This study evaluated the Needs Assessment Checklist (NAC) as an assessment tool for spinal cord injury (SCI) rehabilitation. The NAC was found to have high internal consistency and validity, and was sensitive to changes in patient status during rehabilitation. The study emphasizes the importance of assessing psychological issues and pain during SCI rehabilitation, as these factors can significantly impact rehabilitation progress and outcomes.

Practical Implications

Structured Rehabilitation Planning

The NAC can be used to structure rehabilitation progress and create person-centered goals.

Comprehensive Assessment

It is important to comprehensively assess both psychological issues and pain during SCI rehabilitation to improve patient outcomes.

Individualized Treatment

Rehabilitation plans should be tailored to the individual needs of the patient, considering factors such as gender, age, and mobility.

Study Limitations

1
Information on injury type was not available for 30 patients.
2
The study was conducted at a single center, which may limit the generalizability of the findings.
3
The study did not evaluate the long-term impact of using the NAC on patient outcomes.

Your Feedback

Was this summary helpful?

Back to Spinal Cord Injury