Quality of Life after Spinal Cord Injury
Journal Title: Pielęgniarstwo Neurologiczne i Neurochirurgiczne - Year 2018, Vol 7, Issue 2
Abstract
Introduction. Each year approximately 250–500 people experience spinal cord injury, most often as a result of a fall from a height or a road accident. The injured are mostly young men. The quality of life is an increasingly popular topic, which in terms of medicine is conditioned by the state of health. Research on the quality of life of people with spinal cord injury provides valuable information on the needs of people with disabilities. Aim. The aim of the study was to determine the quality of life of people after spinal cord injury. Material and Methods. The study was conducted among 30 adults after spinal cord injury from various areas of Poland. The examined group of disabled persons consisted of women and men of various ages and with each level of spinal cord injury. A survey was also conducted among 53 people who were physically fit, matched in terms of gender, age and education. The research tool applied for both groups was the WHOQOL-BREF questionnaire (The World Health Organization, a shortened version of the quality of life survey), distinguishing four areas of the quality of life: somatic, psychological, social and environmental. The analysis of the results was based on: arithmetic mean, standard deviation, distribution normality study with the Shapiro–Wilk test. In order to compare particular variables, Pearson’s linear correlation coefficient was calculated. The Mann–Whitney U test was used to assess the significance of differences between the independent groups. Results. The arithmetic mean of the quality of life result in patients after spinal cord injury was 3.83±0.79, and in the control group 4.00±0.65. The average health assessment in both groups was also slightly different: in patients with spinal cord injury it was 3.4±1.1, and in those with mobility problems respectively 3.7±0.9. The average score obtained by people with spinal cord injury in the somatic field was lower than in those who were physically fit. Also, respondents with spinal cord injuries are less satisfied with the means of transport, health care centres or living conditions, compared to those in the control group. Conclusions. Summing up the results of the study, it can be said that people with spinal cord injury have a slightly lower overall subjective quality of life than those who are physically fit. Worse quality of life of people after spinal cord injury occurs particularly in the somatic and environmental fields.
Authors and Affiliations
Grażyna Franek, Ewa Malicka, Zofia Nowak-Kapusta, Aleksandra Cieślik
Keywords
Related Articles
- EP ID EP405358
- DOI 10.15225/PNN.2018.7.2.2
- Views 68
- Downloads 0
Satisfaction with the Life of Neurogeriatric Patients
Introduction. The concept of life satisfaction means a multi-factorial assessment, which is based mainly on such two premises as: satisfaction with experienced years and satisfaction with the present life. When examining...
The Effect of Training Provided to the Relatives of Stroke Patients on the Life Quality, Anxiety and Depressive Symptom Levels of Patients and Their Relatives
Introduction. Stroke is a crisis for the patient relatives who are caregivers of the patient as well. Then patients’ relatives need training and effective support at the stage of accepting this new responsibility. Aim. T...
The Quality of Life in Patients After Surgical Treatment of a Lumbar Disc Herniation — a Preliminary Study
Introduction. Herniated intervertebral disc is a disease that is one of the main causes of sciatica and severe, sharp back pain and usually concerns adults aged 35 to 50 years. Aim. To evaluate the effect of surgical tre...
Ways to Deal with Back Pain Among Patients Treated in the Neurosurgery Ward
Introduction. Lumbar spine pain syndromes are a widespread problem that leads to lowering the quality of life and significant limitations of social, occupational and social life. Pharmacotherapy is often used as a remedy...
An Analysis of Patient Quality of Life after Ischemic Stroke of the Brain
Introduction. In highly developed countries, apart from heart attack and malignancies, stroke is the third leading cause for death and one of the major causes for disability or worsening of self-reliance, and consequentl...