Self-care and functional mobility outcomes of patients diagnosed with tuberculosis of the spine in Kwazulu Natal
Date
2016-03-11
Authors
Hannington, Michelle
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Abstract
There is a lack of research available on the functional outcomes achieved by
patients with Tuberculosis (TB) of the spine, which is relevant for occupational
therapists (OTs) to set diagnosis-specific outcomes. The aim of the study was
to determine the self-care and functional mobility outcomes achieved by TB
spine patients, in KwaZulu Natal, and the factors impacting on these
outcomes.
A quantitative cross-sectional descriptive design was used and sampling
included all TB spine patients accessing the hospitals included in the study.
Data collection occurred over a nine month period. The outcome measures
used included: a demographic and medical questionnaire, the American
Spinal Injury Association classification scale, and the self-care and mobility
sections within the Spinal Cord Independence Measure III.
TB spine showed a good prognosis for functional independence, with the
majority of the population performing well in self-care and functional mobility
outcomes, with lower limbs activities the most affected.
Factors associated with good functional outcomes included no other TB
history, incomplete neurological fallout, and a lesion in the lumbar spine. Back
pain, paraplegia and a lesion in the thoracic spine were associated with
poorer functional outcomes. Only a small percentage of patients were referred
to OT.
Patients diagnosed with TB spine have a good prognosis for self-care and
functional mobility outcomes, however there was poor referral of TB spine
patients to OT which indicates a need for further education around the role of
occupational therapists in TB spine.
Key Words: TB spine, self-care, functional mobility, functional outcomes,
non-traumatic spinal cord lesion, occupational therapy.
Description
A research report submitted to the Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the
Witwatersrand, in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of
Science in Occupational Therapy