Participation Outcomes In Rehabilitation For Individuals With Chronic Neurological Conditions

Abstract

The purpose of this research project was to identify personal and environmental factors that facilitate both ability to participate in life roles and satisfaction with that participation, for people living with chronic neurological conditions. Contributions of self-efficacy and patient activation to participation were also examined.

The results of this secondary analysis confirmed previous work that demonstrates that participation is multi-factorial. Using multiple regression techniques, the final models explained more of the variation in ability than satisfaction. The significant variables in the final models were impairment, fatigue, stigma and either self-efficacy or patient activation. For the ability to participate models only, support was a significant variable. Neither self-efficacy nor patient activation was more predictive of participation.

For clinicians working with this population, re-examination of the current impairment reduction focus is warranted. More comprehensive approaches that support the complexities of daily living for these individuals are indicated. Several factors for rehabilitation intervention were implicated.