Cohort Study

Swiss Spinal Cord Injury Cohort Study - SwiSCI - is a comprehensive cohort study for persons with spinal cord injuries (SCI) in Switzerland, funded by Swiss Paraplegic Foundation.

The core research of SwiSCI focuses on many aspects of functioning, health and quality of life of persons with SCI along the continuum of care, in the community and along their life span.

SwiSCI intends to establish a scientific basis for cost-effective and evidence-based care for people with SCI in the clinical and community setting. Furthermore the study will help to optimize procedures and planning of specialized services in Switzerland and elsewhere. SwiSCI has role model character for multi-disciplinary rehabilitation research in Switzerland.

Study Aims

Posted in Study Aims

In order to better understand and optimize the quality of life and health of persons with SCI SwiSCI strives for three special aims:

the development of comprehensive knowledge on functioning, disability, health and aging with SCI in Switzerland;
the identification of approaches centering in optimizing care, for example the use of devices, or decisions by law influencing the SCI population;
the development of an epidemiologic database containing broad information on the characteristics of spinal cord injuries for health professionals, researchers and stakeholders in social and health care policy;
provide a research platform for nested and joint projects and develop research capacity.

The design of the 3 pathways

Posted in Study Design

SwiSCI is composed of three complementary pathways that, taken together, will establish a population-based and continuous cohort study.

After recruitment through one of the three pathways, SwiSCI aims to follow-up participants over the life span through a survey in the community every 5 years.

The study design of the SwiSCI cohort study is described in this publication in detail: PDF Download

Research Projects

Cohort Study

Study Aims

The design of the 3 pathways