The spinal injury learning series: an experimental test.

A new rehabilitation technique, developed for the care of patients with traumatic spinal cord injuries (SCI), the Spinal Injury Learning Series (SILS) combines learning and communications methods to identify the behavioral needs of SCI patients and to provide systematic training for improving cognitive and psychomotor proficiencies. Emphasizing SCI information and procedures (catheter, bowel, skin-inspection, pressure-relief), 297 representative patients were tested at 6 regional SCI centers over a 29-month period. Statistical comparisons of experimental (SILS) and control (traditional) groups indicated higher average cognitive and psychomotor scores for SILS than for regular patients even a year after injury. Evaluations of functional independence, although varying with procedures, revealed faster acquisition and better retention with SILS. Psychomotor independence varied inversely with level of injury, and mean differences between the experimentals and controls decreased somewhat with time, but overall SILS was significantly more effective than current treatments.