ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To investigate, in a community sample of people with spinal cord injuries (SCIs), chronic pain prevalence, associated factors, sites, characteristics, interference with daily functioning, treatments received, and treatment helpfulness. DESIGN: Postal survey. SETTING: Community. PARTICIPANTS: Three hundred eighty-four individuals aged over 17 years with SCIs. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Chronic Pain Grade questionnaire, Short-Form McGill Pain Questionnaire, pain sites, and treatments. RESULTS: Current pain was reported by 79% of respondents and was significantly more common in less highly educated persons, and individuals not employed or in school. Most common locations of current pain were the back (61%), hips and buttocks (61%), and legs and feet (58%). Upper extremity pain was experienced by 76% after the injury and by 69% currently. Individuals with tetraplegia were significantly more likely to have neck and shoulder pain than were those with paraplegia. On average, respondents reported a high level of pain intensity and a moderate level of pain interference with activities, and rated treatments received for pain as being only somewhat helpful. CONCLUSION: Most individuals with SCI experience chronic pain that is refractory to medical treatment. Further research is needed to delineate the causes of, and optimal treatments for, the various pain problems in this population.
Subject(s)
Pain, Intractable/etiology , Spinal Cord Injuries/complications , Activities of Daily Living , Adult , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Chi-Square Distribution , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Pain Measurement , Pain, Intractable/epidemiology , Pain, Intractable/therapy , Prevalence , Surveys and QuestionnairesABSTRACT
Decisions regarding exercise or physical activity for women with mobility impairments are more complex than those made by other women and by people without mobility limitations. The epidemiologic caveat that being active improves health and well-being generally is applicable, but on the individual level there will be exceptions. For many mobility-limiting conditions, there has been a paucity of research that includes women and even less that focuses specifically on women. Although there is beginning to be evidence that this is changing, there are many unaddressed needs and opportunities for future study.
Subject(s)
Exercise , Multiple Sclerosis/rehabilitation , Musculoskeletal Diseases/rehabilitation , Nervous System Diseases/rehabilitation , Attitude to Health , Exercise/psychology , Female , Humans , Multiple Sclerosis/psychology , Musculoskeletal Diseases/psychology , Nervous System Diseases/psychology , Sex FactorsABSTRACT
Rather than a philosophy, pragmatism is a way of doing philosophy that has major implications for solving disputes involving nursing science, theory, and practice that may otherwise be interminable. Pragmatism weaves together theory and action so that one modifies the other continuously, but both maintain their mutual relevance. Pragmatism emphasizes pluralism and diversity, and depends on an ethical base for determination of what is reasonable. Recently repopularized by the philosopher Richard Rorty and others, pragmatic ideals seem inherent to nursing. We propose that a better understanding of the history and utility of pragmatism will enhance both clinically relevant nursing theory and theoretically relevant nursing practice.
