Affiliations: [a] Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA | [b] Department of Psychology, Surcolombiana University, Neiva, Colombia | [c] Department of Psychology, Universidad Cooperativa de Colombia, Neiva, Colombia
Correspondence:
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Address for correspondence: Juan Carlos Arango-Lasprilla, Ph.D, Assistant Professor, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Virginia Commonwealth University, Rehabilitation Psychology and Neuropsychology, School of Medicine, MCV Campus, West Hospital, 3rd Floor Room 3-102, 1200 East Broad St., Richmond, VA 23298, USA. Tel.: +1 804 828 87 97; Fax: +1 804 828 23 78; E-mail: jcarangolasp@vcu.edu
Abstract: Objective:To assess health-related quality of life (HRQOL) of individuals with Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) in Neiva, Colombia. Design:Cross-sectional. Participants/methods:40 Colombians with SCI and 42 age- and gender-matched controls completed the SF-36, a self-report measure composed of eight component areas (physical health problems, role limitations due to personal or emotional problems, emotional well-being, social functioning, energy/fatigue, and general health perceptions). Results:Compared to healthy controls, individuals with SCI had significantly lower means on five SF-36 subscales: physical functioning (22.5 vs. 94.0; p < 0.001), role limitations due to physical problems (54.4 vs. 77.4; p < 0.01), social functioning (67.5 vs. 80.1; p < 0.05), pain (65.4 vs. 79.5; p < 0.01), and general health (54.9 vs. 69.4; p < 0.01). Both groups scored similarly on the SF-36 emotional well-being subscale. Conclusion:Individuals with SCI from Neiva, Colombia report having poorer quality of life across various domains than healthy controls, primarily in the area of physical functioning. These findings suggest the need for rehabilitation health professionals to develop and implement interventions to improve HRQOL in individuals with SCI.
