Employment and Its Determinants for Spinal Cord Injury Population in Romania

NeuroSci, 2025 · DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/neurosci6010010 · Published: February 1, 2025

Spinal Cord Injury Occupational Health Rehabilitation

Simple Explanation

This study looks at how many people with spinal cord injuries (SCI) in Romania are employed and what affects their ability to find work. It's part of a larger international study. The study found that only about 25% of SCI individuals are employed, which is much lower than the general population. Things like health issues, lack of accessible transportation, and not enough job training make it hard for them to get jobs. The research suggests that Romania needs to do more to help SCI individuals find work by improving job training, making workplaces accessible, and creating laws that support inclusive hiring.

Study Duration

Not specified

Participants

215 adults with traumatic or non-traumatic SCI

Evidence Level

Cross-sectional study

Key Findings

1
The employment rate among individuals with SCI in Romania was found to be 25.35%, significantly lower than the general population's rate of 64.8%, resulting in a 39.45% employment gap.
2
Barriers to employment included health status, disability, inadequate transport (particularly for traumatic SCI), and insufficient access to infrastructure.
3
Vocational rehabilitation participation was low (18.7%), despite a strong desire to return to work among participants (82% for traumatic SCI, 61.1% for non-traumatic SCI).

Research Summary

This study investigated employment rates and determinants among individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI) in Romania, revealing a significant employment gap compared to the general population. Key barriers to employment included health status, inadequate transport, and insufficient access to infrastructure, especially for those with traumatic SCI. Vocational rehabilitation participation was notably low. The findings underscore the need for targeted interventions and inclusive labor market policies to support workforce reintegration for individuals with SCI in Romania.

Practical Implications

Policy Development

Implement inclusive labor market policies and strengthen vocational training programs tailored to the needs of individuals with SCI.

Infrastructure Improvement

Enhance accessibility in transportation and public infrastructure to reduce barriers for individuals with SCI.

Employer Awareness

Raise employer awareness regarding the capabilities of SCI individuals and the benefits of providing workplace accommodations.

Study Limitations

1
Convenience sampling may not represent the entire SCI population in Romania.
2
Self-reported data may be subject to recall bias or inaccuracies.
3
Small sample size of non-traumatic SCI individuals may limit the generalizability of findings for this subgroup.

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