Functional recovery priorities and community rehabilitation service preferences of spinal cord injury individuals and caregivers of Chinese ethnicity and cultural background

This study explores the priorities for functional recovery and preferences for community rehabilitation services among Chinese individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI) and their caregivers. It also looks at their views on advanced technology and research. The study found that tetraplegics prioritize arm/hand function recovery, while paraplegics prioritize bladder/bowel function. Sexual function was ranked lowest by all groups. Most participants felt community rehabilitation services were inadequate but were interested in advanced technology. The findings aim to help plan future research and rehabilitation services for the SCI community, particularly within Chinese populations, and consider the often-overlooked perspectives of primary caregivers.

• 1
  Tetraplegics prioritize recovery of arm/hand function, followed by upper trunk/body strength and balance, and bladder/bowel function.
• 2
  Paraplegics view bladder/bowel function as the most important area of functional recovery, followed by walking movement and upper trunk/body strength and balance.
• 3
  Sexual function was ranked as the lowest priority by all three groups of respondents: tetraplegics, paraplegics, and caregivers.