Secondary conditions in spinal cord injury: results from a prospective survey

Abstract

Study design: Prospective, self-report mail survey with two points of measurement one year apart.

Objectives: To determine significant predictors of pressure ulcers (PU) and urinary tract infections (UTI) in adults with spinal cord injury (SCI) over 2 years.

Setting: Non-institutionalized adults with SCI living in the United States of America.

Methods: Secondary data analysis from 2 consecutive years. Independent variables included demographic, healthcare-related, functional, access to care, and health behavior measures. Dependent variables were the occurrence of PU and UTI at Time 2.

Results: Bivariate analyses showed significant associations between various independent variables and the occurrence of PU and UTI at Time 2. Separate logistic regression analyses for PU and UTI at Time 2 as dependent variables showed that PU at Time 1, not being married or cohabiting, not having access to primary care services when needed, and reporting a greater number of activities of daily living (ADL) requiring assistance were significant predictors of PU at Time 2. UTI at Time 1, a greater number of ADLs requiring assistance, and not engaging in weekly exercise are significant predictors of subsequent occurrence of UTI.

Conclusions: Findings support previous research, and indicate the need for increased efforts to provide SCI self-management education to at-risk subpopulations, including individuals with greater personal assistance needs and functional limitations.