Abstract
Study design:
Longitudinal study.
Objectives:
To examine the relationship between and predictors of quality of life (QOL) at 3 and 15 months post-rehabilitation discharge using the Disability Creation Process model as an explanatory framework.
Setting:
Vancouver, Canada.
Methods:
A consecutive sample of individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI) was enrolled in the study. Data were collected using the Quality of Life Index (QLI) and a variety of personal, participation and environmental instruments. On admission, 197 subjects were recruited, but dropouts and missing values led to the final inclusion of 93 cases in multiple regression models used to identify predictors of QOL at 3 and 15 months post-rehabilitation discharge.
Results:
Mean QLI group scores did not differ between 3 and 15 months (P=0.85). Regression models accounted for 64% of variance in QLI total scores at 3 months and 70% of variance at 15 months. The main predictors of QOL at 3 months were health competence and mood state. The main predictors of QOL at 15 months were QOL level at 3 months, health competence and family support. At both time points, personal factors explained most of the variance, whereas participation and environmental factors were less significant.
Conclusion:
Given that health competence, mood state and some environmental factors may be amenable to modification, this study suggests interventions to mediate these variables might improve subjective QOL after SCI.
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Acknowledgements
We thank all individuals who participated in this research and the acute and rehabilitation facility members of the Quebec SCI Centers of Expertise that include Hôpital Sacré-Cœur de Montréal, Centre hospitalier affilié de Québec, Institut de réadaptation de Montréal, Institut de réadaptation en déficience physique de Québec and the Centre de réadaptation Lucie-Bruneau. Dr Mortenson's work was supported by a Quality of Life Strategic Training Fellowship in Rehabilitation Research from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research Musculoskeletal and Arthritis Institute, the Canadian Occupational Therapy Foundation and graduate fellowships from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research and Michael Smith Foundation for Health Research. Salary support for Dr Miller was provided by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, Institute of Aging. This study was sponsored by the Comité directeur de la recherche en neurotraumatologie, Quebec Rehabilitation Institute Foundation, and the center for Interdisciplinary Research in Rehabilitation and Community Integration.
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Mortenson, W., Noreau, L. & Miller, W. The relationship between and predictors of quality of life after spinal cord injury at 3 and 15 months after discharge. Spinal Cord 48, 73–79 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1038/sc.2009.92
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/sc.2009.92
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