scholarly journals Factors Associated with Quality of Life among Caregivers of People with Spinal Cord Injury

2021 ◽  
Vol 2021 ◽  
pp. 1-10
Author(s):  
Ata Farajzadeh ◽  
Malahat Akbarfahimi ◽  
Saman Maroufizadeh ◽  
Negar Miri Lavasani
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Risk Factors ◽  
Spinal Cord ◽  
Spinal Cord Injury ◽  
Caregiver Burden ◽  
World Health ◽  
Life Questionnaire ◽  
Factors Associated ◽  
Cord Injury

Purpose. Often people with spinal cord injury (SCI) require help from their caregivers to carry out activities of daily living. Such assistance may affect caregiver quality of life (QoL). This study investigates the QoL and its associated risk factors among caregivers of people with SCI to find possible ways to increase their QoL. Material and Method. A convenience sample of 135 Iranian caregivers of people with SCI participated in a cross-sectional study from the Brain and Spinal Injury Repair Research Center of Tehran (BASIR), Iran, from June 2018 to October 2019. The World Health Organization’s Quality of Life Questionnaire (WHOQoL-BREF), the Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II), the Caregiver Burden Scale (CBS), and a demographic questionnaire were administered. Hierarchical multiple linear regression analysis was then applied to identify risk factors associated with caregiver QoL. Results. Moderate to highly significant negative correlations were observed between all domains of the WHOQoL scale and subscales of the CBS and the BDI-II. After controlling for demographic and clinical variables, depression, burden, and level of injury were found to predict caregiver QoL significantly. Furthermore, QoL was lower in caregivers of people with quadriplegia than paraplegia ( p < 0.05 ). Conclusions. The level of injury, self-perceived caregiver burden, and depression are associated with QoL for the caregivers of people with SCI. A holistic approach incorporating caregiver training, psychological interventions, and adequate support may enable better QoL for these caregivers.

scholarly journals COMPLICATIONS OF ACUTE TRAUMATIC SPINAL INJURIES IN SAINT PETERSBURG

2020 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 33-42
Author(s):  
S. V. Lobzin ◽  
L. M. Mirzaeva
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Risk Factors ◽  
Spinal Cord ◽  
Spinal Cord Injury ◽  
Vertebral Fractures ◽  
Length Of Hospital Stay ◽  
Respiratory Complications ◽  
Traumatic Injuries ◽  
Cord Injury

Almost every sailor during performing his job duties aboard receives injuries of varying severity, among which the most common are deck fractures, including compression vertebral fractures, as well as open and closed vertebral fractures with spinal cord injuries. Besides the recovery of disordered functions of the spinal cord, in cases of spinal cord injury, the fight against numerous neurological, infectious and somatic complications affecting the survival and quality of life of patients is still relevant.Objective: to study the incidence of complications of traumatic injuries of the spinal cord under initial hospitalization, their impact on the length of hospital stay, to identify and evaluate the role of risk factors in the development of complications.Materials and methods. A retrospective cohort study was conducted according to the archived case histories of patients hospitalized in neurosurgical hospitals in St. Petersburg. 311 cases of acute spinal cord injury in 2012–2016 were analyzed.Results: complications not directly related to spinal cord injury, such as bronchitis, pneumonia, bedsores, sepsis, thromboembolism, urinary tract infections, postoperative wound pyogenesis and others (damage to other organs and systems), were found in one third of patients (33,8%), in half of the cases there were multiple complications (2 or more), the most frequent — respiratory (23,5%) and pressure sores (10%). Complications significantly increased the length of hospital stay. The dependence of the frequency of complications on age, the level of spinal cord damage and the severity of the injury was revealed. Risk factors such as concomitant head injury and alcohol intoxication have been found. The revealed positive effect of corticosteroids on the regression of neurological deficit was not statistically confirmed. At the same time, there was a significant increase in the frequency of respiratory complications when using corticosteroids.Conclusion: Knowledge of the factors affecting the incidence of complications, optimization of their prevention and therapy will shorten the duration of hospitalization and improve the prognosis and quality of life of patients. The issue of use of corticosteroid therapy in the acute period of traumatic injuries of the spinal cord remains debatable. When choosing therapeutic tactics for managing patients with spinal trauma, it is necessary to take into account the risk of respiratory complications and carefully evaluate the ratio of benefits to harm. 

scholarly journals Triangle of Healthy Caregiving for Veterans With Spinal Cord Injury: Proposal for a Mixed Methods Study

10.2196/14051 ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (5) ◽  
pp. e14051
Author(s):  
Carol McMara Gibson-Gill ◽  
Joyce Williams ◽  
Denise Fyffe
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Spinal Cord ◽  
Spinal Cord Injury ◽  
Mixed Methods ◽  
Caregiver Burden ◽  
Health Care Team ◽  
Cord Injury ◽  
Depth Interviews

Background Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a debilitating injury that results in chronic paralysis, impaired functioning, and drastically altered quality of life (QOL). The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) estimates that approximately 450 newly injured veterans and active-duty members receive rehabilitation at VA’s Spinal Cord Injury/Disorders Centers annually. VA virtual health services use technology and health informatics to provide veterans with better access and more effective care management. The “Triangle of Healthy Caregiving for SCI Veterans” is a patient-centered intervention that incorporates SCI veterans’ caregivers into the VA SCI health care team and extends into the homes of veterans with SCI by using real-time clinical video teleconferencing (CVT). CVT facilitates video-clinic visits, which can include different types of clinical evaluations, therapy (physical/occupational), or psychosocial services. The “Triangle of Healthy Caregiving for SCI Veterans” builds on interactive, interdisciplinary health care relationships that exist between the veterans with SCI, their caregivers, and the VA SCI health care team. SCI veterans’ propensity to multiple secondary complications makes a healthy partnership crucial for the success of keeping better health and functional outcomes as well as quality of life while living in their homes. Objective The goal of the proposed mixed methods project will assess SCI veterans’, their caregivers’, and the VA health care team’s perspectives and experiences in the “Triangle of Healthy Caregiving for SCI Veterans” to determine the benefits, challenges, and outcomes for everyone involved in the intervention. Methods Data collection methods will be implemented over three sequential phases. First, in-depth interviews will be conducted with the telehealth coordinators to systematically document the administrative procedures involved in enrollment of veterans with SCI into the CVT system. Next, structured observation of the CVT enrollment process and logistics of home installation of the CVT system will be conducted to validate the content of the in-depth interviews and highlight any discrepancies observed. Semistructured interviews will be conducted to assess specific elements of the “Triangle of Healthy Caregiving for SCI Veterans” program, their perceived utility, and effectiveness of the CVT system as well as the general impressions of the impact of the intervention on the SCI veterans’ health and function outcomes, caregiver burden, and daily caregiver burden. Finally, the research team will conduct a focus group to evaluate the ways in which the “Triangle of Healthy Caregiving for SCI Veterans” is useful for health care delivery to veterans with SCI and support services to SCI caregivers. Results This proposal was funded in July 2017. It was reviewed and received institutional review board approval in March 2018, and the project was started immediately after, in the same month. As of September 2019, we have completed Phases I and III and have recruited 52 subjects for Phase II. We are beginning the data analysis. The study is projected to be completed in late summer of 2020, and the expected results are to be published in the fall of 2020. Conclusions The findings from this study will highlight the ways in which virtual health care technologies can be used to improve access to SCI specialized care for veterans and provide an estimation of the potential impact on clinical outcomes for veterans with SCI and their caregivers. International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID) DERR1-10.2196/14051

scholarly journals The Impact Of Sports Activities On Quality Of Life Of Persons With A Spinal Cord Injury

2016 ◽  
Vol 55 (2) ◽  
pp. 104-111 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dragana Kljajić ◽  
Fadilj Eminović ◽  
Milivoj Dopsaj ◽  
Dragan Pavlović ◽  
Sladjana Arsić ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Spinal Cord ◽  
Spinal Cord Injury ◽  
Health Conditions ◽  
Medical Documentation ◽  
Subjective Feeling ◽  
Life Questionnaire ◽  
Cord Injury ◽  
Sports Activities

Abstract Objectives Studying the quality of life of people with a spinal cord injury is of great importance as it allows the monitoring of both functioning and adaptation to disability. The aim of this study was to determine the difference between persons with a spinal cord injury involved in sports activities and those not involved in sports activities in relation to their quality of life and the presence of secondary health conditions (pressure ulcers, urinary infections, muscle spasms, osteoporosis, pain, kidney problems-infections, calculosis and poor circulation). Methods The study included a total of 44 participants with spinal cord injury-paraplegia of both genders; 26 of them were athletes and 18 were not athletes. The athletes were training actively for the last two years, minimally 2-3 times per week. A specially designed questionnaire, medical documentation and the Spinal Cord Injury Quality of Life Questionnaire (SCI QL-23) were used for research purposes. Chi-square test was used to analyze the differences between the groups, while multiple analysis of variance (MANOVA) was used to determine the differences between the sets of variables. Results Among the participants, the athletes perceived higher quality of life than the non-athletes (male gender p<0.001 and female gender p<0.05). Regarding secondary health conditions, the athletes reported the presence of less pain (p=0.034) and a subjective feeling of better circulation (p=0.023). Conclusion The implementation of sports activities significantly improves quality of life in the population of people with spinal cord injury-paraplegia. However, sports activities only partially affect secondary health conditions.

scholarly journals Is Self-Efficacy Related to the Quality of Life in Elite Athletes after Spinal Cord Injury?

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (20) ◽  
pp. 10866
Author(s):  
Agata Goraczko ◽  
Alina Zurek ◽  
Maciej Lachowicz ◽  
Katarzyna Kujawa ◽  
Grzegorz Zurek
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Spinal Cord ◽  
Spinal Cord Injury ◽  
Self Efficacy ◽  
World Health ◽  
World Health Organization Quality ◽  
Cord Injury ◽  
Quality Of Life Scale ◽  
General Self Efficacy

Background: A spinal cord injury (SCI) is a traumatic event that affects every aspect of life: physical, mental, economic, and social. The main aim of this study was to investigate self-efficacy, quality of life, and their correlations among outstanding athletes who have suffered spinal cord injuries, and to determine whether these individuals have specific psychological characteristics that contribute to a better quality of life. Methods: The study involved nine athletes with at least national-level achievements in sports prior to an SCI. Participation in the study consisted of an interview via an online communicator, followed by an online questionnaire consisting of a personal questionnaire and two scales: The World Health Organization Quality of Life Scale (WHOQoL-BREF), and the General Self-Efficacy Scale (GSES). Results: Spearman’s correlation showed a correlation between general self-efficacy, perception of quality of life, and satisfaction with own physical health, as well as psychological resources and environmental support. Conclusions: Involvement in an environment that was important to the injured person before the accident, in either a passive (in the absence of functional capacity) or active form, promotes a greater sense of self-efficacy and good QoL, regardless of the time that has passed since the accident, and despite high levels of pain or secondary health issues. To fill the gap in professional long-term healthcare services for athletes after SCIs, intervention programs should be considered that support self-efficacy, which is an important factor that can be subject to improvement.

scholarly journals Factors Associated with Quality of Life among Spinal Cord Injury Survivors: A Cross-Sectional Survey

2021 ◽  
pp. 1
Author(s):  
Banita Banita ◽  
Meenakshi Meenakshi ◽  
Priyanka Kumari ◽  
Shalini Shalini ◽  
Manju Dhandapani ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Spinal Cord ◽  
Spinal Cord Injury ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Factors Associated ◽  
Cord Injury
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