An important finding of this study is the high number of
participants stating that a particular secondary condition
could have been prevented, not the least by their own
behaviour. This study did not specify how they thought they
could have prevented it. Pressure sores were most often
mentioned as preventable conditions. No studies have been
found specifically on the preventability of secondary conditions
according to persons with SCI. A few studies link to this
subject and showed that education on bowel, bladder and
skin care was perceived as most important by individuals
with an SCI living in the community20 and that persons with
an SCI felt ill-prepared to live in the community, including
finding information on and accessing community services.13
Rehabilitation aims at preparing persons with SCI to live in
the community with a life-long disability, in which education
on the prevention and management of secondary
conditions has an important part. The outcome of this study
suggests that rehabilitation does not reach this goal and
educational/self-efficacy programs for persons with longterm
SCI might be needed.6,9,20