ปัจจัยที่มีผลต่อการมีงานทำและคุณภาพชีวิตของผู้พิการบาดเจ็บไขสันหลัง โรงพยาบาลมหาราชนครเชียงใหม่

Abstract

This mixed-methods research aimed to study the prevalence rate and factors affecting employment, as well as compare the quality of life of individuals with spinal cord injuries who are employed and unemployed. The study was conducted between January 2021 and March 2022. There were 71 people with spinal cord injuries at Maharaj Nakorn Chiang Mai Hospital. Data were collected using a general questionnaire, the Thai version of the Spinal Cord Independence Measure Version III (SCIM-III), the Quality of Life Basic Data Set (QoL-BDS), and an interview questionnaire about factors affecting employment. The data were then analyzed using descriptive statistics and logistic regression analysis to identify factors affecting employment. The study found that most of the participants with spinal cord injuries were male (73.2%), with an average age of 41.7 ± 10.8 years. There were only 67.6% employed. Most of them worked as self-employed (33.3%) or government employees (25%). Logistic regression analysis showed that those who were able to drive vehicles were 8.2 times more likely to be employed than those who could not drive (p = 0.002; 95% CI, 2.2 – 30.42), while those who received financial support reduced the likelihood of employment by 80.9% (p=0.007; 95% CI, 0.06 – 0.63). In addition, it was found that there was a statistically significant difference in quality of life between those with spinal cord injuries who were employed and those who were unemployed. Those who were employed had higher median scores for quality of life in all three domains than those who were unemployed. It is indicated that employment will help to have more satisfaction in life.