A Pilot Study of Perceived Needs of Persons with New Spinal Cord Injury

Abstract

Persons with new spinal cord injury have varying perceptions of their own needs in multiple life domains such as readiness and need to use assistive technologies, but these are often not directly addressed. These areas were the focus of the present study. This descriptive study looked at subjective need in a variety of areas with a new measure and also assessed perceptions related to assistive technology and quality of life. Perceptions of various needs were compared at baseline and at 1- and 6-mo. follow-up. The Perceived Needs Inventory, the Assistive Technology Device Predisposition Assessment, and the Diener Satisfaction with Life Scale were the main outcome measures given 22 patients with new injuries in an inpatient service for acute spinal cord injury with community follow-up. As the Perceived Needs Inventory provided distinct information and showed good test-reliability and some evidence of construct validity, it may be a useful adjunctive tool with such patients.