For many persons living with spinal cord injury (SCI), motivation is an important and at times challenging aspect of the rehabilitation process. In general, motivation is a complex, goal-oriented process that involves many factors. Although most everyone has some sort of understanding what motivation is, it is difficult to clearly define, measure and shape motivation.

Jason, 17 years old at the time, was on track to complete an apprenticeship as a technician. His life was suddenly interrupted after falling 50 metres into a quarry, suffering multiple injuries, including a spinal cord injury (SCI).

At the start of the Rehab-Cycle^® i.e. the assessment phase, Jason's rehabilitation team conducted a comprehensive assessment that involved a battery of discipline-specific evaluations (health professional perspective) and an interview with Jason to capture his perspective about his functioning (patient perspective).

Based on the rehabilitation team's assessment results and Jason's own statements about his functioning and overall situation, intervention targets and concrete goals to achieve during Jason's Rehab-Cycle^® were identified.

Every intervention target that was determined during the assessment phase was assigned to corresponding member(s) of Jason's rehabilitation team during the assignment phase of the Rehab-Cycle^®. The respective team member was then responsible for addressing the targets with specific interventions during the intervention phase.

Jason’s Rehab-Cycle^® lasted three months, and at the end of the Rehab-Cycle^® a re-evaluation of Jason's functioning took place. This was seven months after Jason incurred a spinal cord injury (SCI).

Among persons working in a rehabilitation setting there is a general understanding that motivation has an impact on the achievement of rehabilitation goals and ultimately on long-term outcome. However, evaluating a person's motivation and targeting interventions that address motivation is an inexact science.

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Q1. Describe the contemporary theories of motivation. (Refer to BITTE ANKER AUF BOX 1 for the answer.)

Q2. Explain how the concept of motivation can be integrated into rehabilitation practice based on the self-determination theory. (Refer to BITTE ANKER AUF General Introduction unter dem Heading "Motivation and Rehabilitation" for the answer.)

Q3. List the practices that Maclean and Pound have suggested for fostering motivation in rehabilitation. (Refer to BITTE ANKER AUF BOX 2 for the answer.)

Q4. What role did the concept of motivation play in Jason's rehabilitation? (Refer to BITTE ANKER AUF Jason's Story unter Heading "Role of Motivation in Jason's Rehabilitation for the answer.)

Q5. Explain how Jason's case reflects the individualistic-social approach of motivation proposed by Maclean and Pound. (Refer to BITTE ANKER DISCUSSION, 5. Absatz der mit "Jason's case seems to reflect the combined individualistic-social approaches..."anfängt for the answer.)