Managing Activities of Daily Living after Spinal Cord Injury: The Experienceof Complete Paraplegic Wheelchair Users in their Home Environment afterCompleting Rehabilitation

Luthfun Nahar; Md. Julker Nayan; Rakib Husain; Yeasmin Sultana Nipa4

Luthfun Nahar^(1*), Md. Julker Nayan⁽²⁾, Rakib Husain⁽³⁾, Yeasmin Sultana Nipa4⁽⁴⁾

(1) Affiliation
(2) Affiliation
(3) Affiliation
(4) Affiliation
(*) Corresponding Author

Abstract

Background: Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a medically complex and life-disrupting condition around the world. AfterSCI a person’s body and life normally change, people then begin to understand the impact of disability in their dailyfunctioning. Occupational therapists commonly implement the activity training in the early phase of rehabilitationin order to promote independence.

Method: This study focused on exploring the experiences of complete paraplegic wheelchair users about theiractivities of daily living at home environment. Face-to-face, semi-structured interview with open-ended questionnaireswere used as the method of qualitative data collection among the complete paraplegic wheelchair users who hadsuccessfully completed rehabilitation program from the Centre for the Rehabilitation of the Paralysed.

Result: From the content analysis, the emerged results are seen that different physical, environmental and personalfactors influence participants’ activities of daily living in their own community. Some factors influence dressingactivity such as difficulty in moving due to lower limb paralysis, not being able to obtain clothes due to narrowroom space. It was also found that they reported lack of accessibility in bathroom for bathing activity, requiringhelp from others to bring the water and clothes. In addition, factors for toileting activity such as poor water supplysystem, sometimes dehydration problem. Maximum participant of the study completed their activities of dailyliving independently by following different strategies. For example, some participants changed the structure of thebedroom to dress easily, others made a slope to enter the room or toilet, and someone uses tube pot in the wheelchairfor defecation.

Conclusion: Occupational Therapists have an important role for people with paraplegia in managing their activitiesof daily living at their home. This study conclusion will primarily be helpful for the occupational therapists andpeople with paraplegia wheelchair users.