Perceived Clinical Barriers to Employment for Males with Spinal Cord Injury in Saudi Arabia

This study investigates the clinical barriers to employment perceived by males with spinal cord injury (SCI) in Saudi Arabia. It aims to understand how clinical attributes and perceptions affect their reintegration into the workforce, considering regional challenges. The study involved 121 male participants with SCI and found that mobility, bladder incontinence, spasticity, musculoskeletal pain, and neuropathic pain were the most commonly reported clinical barriers to employment. The findings highlight the need to consider secondary health conditions in goal setting when planning for employment among individuals with SCI, as perceived barriers differed between individuals with tetraplegia and paraplegia.

• 1
  The most common reported clinical barriers to employment were mobility, bladder incontinence, spasticity, musculoskeletal pain, and neuropathic pain among males with SCI in Saudi Arabia.
• 2
  Bladder incontinence was the most common perceived clinical barrier for individuals with paraplegia, while musculoskeletal pain was most common for those with tetraplegia.
• 3
  A significant difference was observed for bowel incontinence as a reported barrier (p = 0.024) among adults less than thirty years of age compared to those older than thirty years.
• 4
  Transfers as perceived barrier was significant (p=0.014) in participants with paraplegia and also significant (p=0.001) in individuals with tetraplegia.