• James S Krause, Joseph V Terza, and Clara Dismuke.
• College of Health Professions, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC 29425, USA. krause@musc.edu
• Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 2008 Aug 1; 89 (8): 1474-81.

ObjectiveTo identify differences in conditional and unconditional earnings among participants with spinal cord injury (SCI) attributable to biographic, injury, educational, and employment factors by using a 2-part model (employment, earnings).DesignA secondary analysis of cross-sectional survey data.SettingA Midwestern university hospital and a private hospital in the Southeastern United States.ParticipantsAll participants (N=1296) were adults between the ages of 18 and 64 who had a traumatic SCI at least 1 year before study initiation.InterventionsNot applicable.Main Outcome MeasuresEarnings were defined by earnings within the previous 12 months and were measured by a single categoric item. Conditional earnings reflect the earnings of employed participants, whereas unconditional earnings reflect all participants with $0 in earnings recorded for those unemployed.ResultsSex and race were significantly related to conditional earnings, even after controlling for educational and vocational variables. Additionally, conditional earnings (employed participants only) were related to 16 or more years of education, number of years employed, the percentage of time after SCI spent employed, and working in either government or private industry (not self-employed or family business). There was a greater number of significant variables for unconditional earnings, largely reflective of the influence of the portion employed (those not working having $0 in earnings).ConclusionsEfforts to improve employment outcomes should focus on facilitating return to work immediately after injury, returning to preinjury job, maintaining regular employment, and working for placement in government or private industry. Special efforts may be needed to promote vocational outcomes among women and nonwhites.

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