Perceived causes of change in function and quality of life for people with long duration spinal cord injury.

Objective: To determine those factors perceived to change or threaten function and quality of life among individuals with long duration spinal cord injury.

Design: Retrospective self-report using telephone-administered questionnaire.

Setting: Queensland, Australia.

Subjects: Eighty-four community-resident persons with spinal cord injury.

Main Outcome Measures: Functional Independence Measure, Delighted-Terrible Scale, Perceived Causes of Change Inventory.

Results: Pain and loss of strength were perceived to have caused change in function in 11.9% and 14.3% of participants respectively while these same factors were perceived to have caused change in quality of life in 19.0% and 17.9% of participants respectively. Even when measurable change had not occurred, pain and loss of strength were perceived threats to function in 45.2% and 44.0% of participants respectively, while these same factors were perceived threats to quality of life in 10.7% and 11.9% of individuals respectively. Emotional issues such as stress, depression, family functioning, financial status and employment were also perceived causes of change in quality of life.

Conclusions: The ability of participants to identify the perceived causes of change in function and quality of life may have implications for preventative health care if these individuals are encouraged to seek assistance when these factors first become apparent.