Factors associated with the quality of life of long-term spinal cord injured persons

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to identify issues associated with quality of life after spinal cord injury. The Life Situation Survey, a subjective indicator of life quality developed to address issues in chronic disability, served as the primary assessment tool. Data were collected during personal interviews of 100 persons with spinal cord injuries. Educational level, employment status, income, and a number of social activities were found to be associated with perceived life quality. Most notable was a finding that lower ratings of quality of life were associated with greater severity of disability, which was contrary to conclusions drawn from other studies. A plausible explanation for the inconsistency may lie in the different approaches and instruments used to measure quality of life.