Effects of different bladder management methods on the quality of life in patients with traumatic spinal cord injury.

Study Design: Multi-center, cross-sectional study.

Objectives: To investigate the effects of different bladder management methods on the quality of life (QoL) in patients with spinal cord injury (SCI).

Setting: Turkey.

Methods: Consecutive SCI patients (n=195, 74.4% males), for whom at least 6 months had elapsed since the injury, were included and evaluated in five groups: normal spontaneous micturition (NSM), micturition with assisted maneuvers (MAM), aseptic intermittent catheterization by patient (IC-P), aseptic IC by an attendant/caregiver (IC-A) and indwelling catheterization. The King's Health Questionnaire was used to evaluate the patients' QoL.

Results: The bladder management groups were similar regarding age, time elapsed since injury, education level, marital and occupational status. There was no difference among the groups in general health perception, personal relationships and sleep/energy domain scores. While the NSM group had generally the lowest scores, that is, better QoL, the IC-A group had the highest scores, that is, poorer QoL, in most of the domains. When the patients were grouped according to the frequency of urinary incontinence or American Spinal Injury Association Impairment Scale grades, no difference was found in the domain scores of the groups except the symptom severity domain scores. No significant difference was found between paraplegic and tetraplegic patients in the King's Health Questionnaire domains.

Conclusion: The QoL was notably affected in SCI patients in IC-A group and negative effects on emotional status, physical and social activity limitations were observed, as well.