Perceptions of patients with spinal cord injury on future research in South India

The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the perceptions of research priorities as expressed by people with spinal cord injury (SCI).

A descriptive study based on feedback from patients, rehabilitated following SCI was conducted in order to explore their felt needs for further research. A questionnaire was sent to 225 people who were rehabilitated following SCI. They were asked to indicate three priorities for further research on disability related issues. The questionnaire had a list of issues on different facets of disability following SCI. In total, 62 patients responded to the questionnaire.

Research on urinary incontinence was stated to have the highest priority among these different groups according to their age, marital status, duration of disability, and employment status. Rehabilitated patients of all age groups, irrespective of marital or employment status or duration of disability, indicated that further research is to be done on urinary incontinence.

A similar study among groups in a larger population would add further information.

Practitioners should address these expressed needs of the persons with SCI in the community.

These expressed needs will increase awareness among the team involved in the management of SCI in the community thus fill the gap between research and practice.

Research focussing on various problems associated with spinal cord injury have been carried out globally. On most of the occasions, the perceptions of the affected people regarding research areas are seldom obtained. This research would guide future directions of rehabilitation research in the field of spinal cord injury.