“a Study on Quality of Life of Persons with Spinal Cord Injury”

The aim of present study is to assess the Quality of Life (QOL) of persons with spinal cord injury (SCI) in relation to physical health, psychological health, social relationship, and environmental dimensions with orientation to Indian context. The objectives of the study was to describe the Socio demographic and clinical profile of respondents, to measure the Quality of life of persons Spinal Cord Injury and to evaluate the relationship between socio demographic data, clinical data and Quality of Life dimensions among persons with Spinal Cord Injury. Universe of the study was individuals with spinal cord injury from different states of India. Sample Unit was Patients with spinal cord injury admitted as inpatient under the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, St John’s National Academy of Health Sciences, Bangalore. A total of 40 subjects were participated in the study. It has been considered the “Descriptive research design” for the study. Purposive sampling design was selected. Tools administered were Socio Demographic Data Sheet, Clinical Data Sheet and WHOQOL BREF Scale (26 Item Questionnaire). Results confirmed that mean score on Quality of life of the respondents with regard to their Physical health, Psychological health and social relationship domain was at moderate level, whereas mean score on Quality of life of respondents in relation to their environmental domain was found at lower level. Majorly findings of present study also demonstrated that there was no significant difference in quality of life between different Age groups, Marital status, different Education levels, duration of Rehabilitation, Type of treatment (Surgical/ Non surgical) and between people with Paraplegia, Tetraplegia and Non Traumatic Paraplegia (p >0.05), while there was significant difference in quality of life between Male & Female, Duration since injury, Post injury Occupation status & Post injury monthly income status (p < 0.05). The study finding suggest that comprehensive rehabilitation program team professionals need to incorporate some more appropriate interventions & remedial procedures which can enhance the quality of life of persons with spinal cord injury in relation to physical health, psychological health, social relationship and environmental dimensions. In addition government has to modify policy and develop new projects/ programs in the interest of enhancing quality of life in relation to environmental dimensions of persons with spinal cord injury.