| This exploratory study of persons with spinal cord injuries (PSCIs) utilized the Internet to investigate the health related quality of life of these individuals following their initial adaptation period. The aims of this study were to analyze the effect of their sense of coherence, environmental barriers, impairment, and demographic factors on their perceived health related quality of life (HRQoL) following discharge from their initial medical care. The measures used were the MOS SF-36 V2 (HRQoL), the Orientation to Life Questionnaire (Sense of Coherence), the Craig Hospital Inventory of Environmental Factors (CHIEF), and primary diagnosis plus a list of eleven secondary conditions used with this population by the Massachusetts Department of Health and the New England Spinal Cord Center as a composite measure for impairment factors. Data analysis used simple and multiple linear regression models approach. Results of this study showed HRQoL mean scale scores of six of the eight subscales below the 25th percentile of norm-based scores. Bodily pain and vitality were the highest: between the 25th and 50th percentiles of the norm-based scores. The Physical Component Summary mean value was at 59% of the <25th of the U.S. norm, and the Mental Component Summary mean value was at 39% of <25th of the U.S. norm This suggests that the participants perceived their health related quality of life to be extremely limited and poor. Participants' Sense of Coherence score mean was lower than any other studies for which data is available, including that of U.S. minority homeless, drug recovery women. Finally, on the CHIEF measure of environmental barriers that participants encountered, they measured higher in all subscale scores than the only comparison group. Impairment factors played a significant role in their experiencing barriers as well. Overall, the participants reported very low HRQoL, low SOC, and high measures of barriers to participation encountered in general and related to primary diagnosis and secondary conditions. |
