Citation

Kalyani HH, Dassanayake S, Senarath U. Spinal Cord 2014; 53(6): 446-450.

Affiliation

Department of Community Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo, Colombo, Sri Lanka.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2014, International Spinal Cord Society, Publisher Nature Publishing Group)

DOI

10.1038/sc.2014.183

PMID

25366535

Abstract

OBJECTIVES:The study was conducted with the aim of assessing the effects of paraplegia caused by spinal cord injuries on the quality of life of patients and their family economy.Study design:A descriptive cross-sectional study.Setting:The study was carried out in Accident Service, Orthopedic and Neurosurgery Units of the National Hospital of Sri Lanka and the Spinal Injury Unit of Rehabilitation Hospital Ragama.

METHODS:One hundred traumatic paraplegic patients were included as the study sample. Modified Ferrans and Powers quality of life index: spinal cord injury version was used to measure the quality of life. Pre- and post-family economic data were collected using an interviewer-administered questionnaire.

RESULTS:Quality of Life was calculated under four major components. Paraplegics' family component (mean=3.50) and social, economic aspects (mean=3.24) are considerably good when compared with health and functioning (mean=2.83) and psychological (mean=2.78) components. Also the study revealed that expenditures are significantly high (P=0.001) and income is significantly less (P=0.001) after injury than before.

CONCLUSION:Quality of life is relatively good on family and social aspects, whereas the physical and psychological aspects are somewhat poor. Regarding family economy, expenses are significantly high and earnings are significantly less after the injury. Contribution to the income from self-employment shows the most significant decline.

FINDINGS suggest that the family economy of such patients should be supported.Spinal Cord advance online publication, 4 November 2014; doi:10.1038/sc.2014.183.

Language: en