Analysis of selected determinants of health-related quality of life in persons with spinal cord injury

Abstract

AbstractThe aim of the study was the analysis of factors determining health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in persons with spinal cord injury (SCI).The study involved 100 persons with SCI dependent on using a wheelchair in everyday life, including 22 females and 78 males. Study conducted using the SF-36 questionnaire used to assess HRQoL.Based on the statistical analysis of the collected research material it has been shown highly significant correlations between the physical and mental dimensions of HRQoL and age at the day of injury and age at the day of the survey. There were also highly significant differences in the physical dimension of HRQoL due to the following variables: clinical pattern of injury, marital status, level of education and participation/non-participation in the active rehabilitation camp. In the case of the mental dimension of the HRQoL there was a significant variation due to the same variables with the exception of clinical pattern of SCI.Based on the undertaken research it was shown that people with higher levels of HRQoL are characterized by: lower age at the time of the study, lower age at the time of injury, long time since injury, paraplegia, marital status – single, secondary/higher level of education and participation in the active rehabilitation camps in the past.