The social dimension of quality of life following spinal cord injury or disease: an international ICF-linking study.

Study Design: International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) linking study.

Objective: Analyze cognitive interview data using the ICF as an analytic framework, to examine aspects of social life relevant to quality of life (QoL) according to people with spinal cord injury or disease (SCI/D). This study builds upon results of an international study about the cross-cultural validity of the International SCI QoL Basic Data Set (QoL-BDS).

Setting: Four specialized outpatient clinics in SCI/D rehabilitation, from the US, Brazil and Australia.

Methods: Analysis of qualitative data from 39 cognitive interviews with SCI/D patients at least one year post onset. Participants were asked to define their concept of QoL, overall life satisfaction, physical health and psychological health, and other relevant matters. Four independent researchers coded text fragments related to the items, and fragments were linked to ICF chapters d6-d9, following established linking rules.

Results: The proportion of text referring to social life was 35.8% (definition QoL), 24.9% (QoL life as whole), 6.0% (physical health) and 34.9% (psychological health). The most frequent ICF categories were d760 Family relationships, d770 Intimate relationships and d920 Recreation and leisure. Most frequent responded social topics to the 'other issues' item were d770 Intimate relationships, d760 Formal relationships, and d870 Economic self-sufficiency.

Conclusion: The importance of social life aspects to the QoL was highlighted based on responses of SCI/D patients, clearly demonstrated through the ICF linking process. Adding a satisfaction with social life item to the QoL-BDS has made this instrument a more comprehensive measure.