Model System:

SCI

Reference Type:

JA

Accession No.:

J60585

Journal:


Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation

Year, Volume, Issue, Page(s):

, 92, 3, 472-476

Publication Website:

Abstract:

Study determined the prevalence and demographic characteristics associated with cell telephone ownership and investigated whether cell telephone ownership has a positive relationship with social integration among people with spinal cord injury (SCI). Demographic and clinical data were obtained for 7,696 people with traumatic SCI who were entered into the National SCI Database and completed a follow-up interview from April 2004 through April 2009. In April 2004, the question about cell telephone ownership was first entered into the database. Social integration was measured using the Craig Handicap Assessment Reporting Technique Social Integration subscale. Analysis revealed that 73 percent of participants owned a cell telephone. Individuals who were younger, employed, achieved education beyond grade school, and had computer and e-mail access were more likely to own cell telephones. Not owning a cell telephone decreased the likelihood of belonging to the high-social-integration group compared with the low-integration group. People with low or medium social integration scores were less likely to own a cell telephone than those who had high social integration scores. In this study, owning a cell telephone increased the likelihood of being more socially integrated compared with non-cell telephone ownership.

Author(s):


Roach MJ, Harrington A, Powell H, Nemunaitis G