First contact of care for persons with spinal cord injury: a general practitioner or a spinal cord injury specialist?

This study explores whether people with spinal cord injuries (SCI) first contact a general practitioner (GP) or a SCI-specialist for their healthcare needs. The study found that the choice of first contact depends on factors like age, language, distance to SCI centers, and the severity of their condition. The findings suggest that both GPs and SCI-specialists play important roles in the long-term care of individuals with SCI.

• 1
  Persons with SCI who initially contact an SCI-specialist have more secondary conditions and use health-care services more often.
• 2
  Older individuals (≥75 years), Italian speakers, those with incomplete lesions, experiencing pain, or having diabetes are more likely to contact a GP first.
• 3
  Residing closer to SCI centers or having higher SCI-SCS scores makes individuals less likely to initially consult a GP.