Quality of Life in Spinal Cord Injured Persons

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to analyze relationships between injury-related variables, demographic variables, disability, handicap and life satisfaction of persons with spinal cord injury. METHOD: Data was collected through personal interviews of 96 persons with spinal cord injury. Neurologic variables, demographic variables, FIM (functional independence measure) scores and CHART (Craig Handicap Assessment and Reporting Technique) scores were obtained. Life domain satisfaction measure, a self-administered questionnare containing 12 items, was used to assess the life satisfaction. RESULTS: Life satisfaction was related with the total CHART score (p=0.00), severity of disability (p=0.02), annual family income (p=0.019) and employment status (p=0.008). Life satisfaction was not related with the level of injury, age, duration of injury, sex or marital status (p>0.05). Social integration was the most strong predictor of life satisfaction (p=0.00). Economic-self sufficiency (p=0.004) and FIM scores (p=0.018) were also predictors of the life satisfaction. CONCLUSION: The result of this study provides an evidence that social integration and employment warrant a priority in rehabilitation efforts to promote the quality of life following spinal cord injury.