Identiﬁcation and relationship of quality of life and self- care ability among Chinese patients with traumatic spinal cord injuries: a cross-sectional analysis

Brazilian Journal of Medical and Biological Research, 2021 · DOI: 10.1590/1414-431X2021e11530 · Published: December 1, 2021

Spinal Cord Injury Participation Rehabilitation

Simple Explanation

This study aimed to understand the quality of life and self-care abilities of Chinese individuals with traumatic spinal cord injuries. The researchers also investigated how factors like demographics, clinical characteristics, and socioeconomic status relate to these outcomes. The findings highlight the need for tailored nursing care to improve daily living activities and overall quality of life for these patients.

Study Duration

8 Months

Participants

392 patients with traumatic spinal cord injuries

Evidence Level

Level IV

Key Findings

1
More than half of the patients were dependent on caregivers for daily activities after a spinal cord injury.
2
Incomplete spinal injuries and paraplegia were associated with greater independence in daily living.
3
Male gender, higher education, incomplete spinal injuries, paraplegia, and absence of pressure injury correlated with a higher quality of life.

Research Summary

The study evaluated the self-care ability and quality of life among Chinese patients with traumatic spinal cord injuries, also exploring the relationship between these factors and demographic, clinical, and socioeconomic parameters. The research revealed that a significant portion of patients were dependent on caregivers, and factors such as the completeness and level of spinal cord injury significantly influenced independence in daily living and overall quality of life. The findings suggest that providing adequate nursing care and considering factors like education level and gender may improve the activities of daily living and quality of life for individuals with traumatic spinal cord injuries.

Practical Implications

Tailored Nursing Care

Adequate nursing care should be provided to spinal cord injury patients to improve their activities of daily living and overall quality of life.

Targeted Interventions

Interventions should focus on improving independence in daily activities, especially for patients with complete spinal cord injuries and tetraplegia.

Consideration of Socioeconomic Factors

Socioeconomic factors, such as education level and gender, should be considered when developing strategies to improve the quality of life for patients with spinal cord injuries.

Study Limitations

1
The study did not assess caregiver data, such as educational level, age, and gender.
2
The generalizability of the results to the broader Chinese population is limited due to regional differences in rehabilitation facilities.
3
The cross-sectional design limits the ability to establish causal relationships between the variables studied.

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