Comparison of Life Satisfaction in Persons With Spinal Cord Injury Living in 22 Countries With Different Economic Status

Tasiemski T 1 , Kujawa J 2 , Tederko P 3 , Rubinelli S 4 , Middleton JW 5 , Craig A 5 Show all authors , Post MWM 6

Affiliations 

  • 1 Department of Adapted Physical Activity, Faculty of Sport Sciences, Poznań University of Physical Education, Poznań, Poland. Electronic address: tasiemski@awf.poznan.pl
  • 2 Department of Medical Rehabilitation, Faculty of Health Sciences, Medical University of Łódź, Łódź, Poland
  • 3 Department of Rehabilitation, Faculty of Medicine, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland
  • 4 Department of Health Science and Medicine, University of Lucerne, Lucerne, Switzerland; Swiss Paraplegic Research, Nottwil, Switzerland
  • 5 John Walsh Centre for Rehabilitation Research, Kolling Institute of Medical Research, Royal North Shore Hospital, New South Wales, Australia; Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
  • 6 Center of Excellence for Rehabilitation Medicine, UMC Utrecht Brain Center, University Medical Center Utrecht and De Hoogstraat, Utrecht, The Netherlands; University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Groningen, The Netherlands
Arch Phys Med Rehabil, 2021 Dec 17.
PMID: 34922932 DOI: 10.1016/j.apmr.2021.11.008

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To analyze and compare life satisfaction (LS) in persons with spinal cord injury (SCI) living in 22 countries participating in the International Spinal Cord Injury (InSCI) community survey. The study tested the hypothesis that there are differences in LS across InSCI countries according to the countries' economic status specified as gross domestic product per capita purchased power parity (GDP-PPP).

DESIGN: Cross-sectional survey.

SETTING: Community setting (22 countries representing all 6 World Health Organization regions).

PARTICIPANTS: Persons (N=12,108) with traumatic or nontraumatic SCI aged at least 18 years, living in the community and able to respond to one of the available language versions of the questionnaire.

INTERVENTIONS: Not applicable.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: LS measured by 5 items selected from the World Health Organization Quality of Life Assessment-BREF: satisfaction with overall quality of life, health, daily activities, relationships, and living conditions. LS index was calculated as the mean of these 5 items.

RESULTS: The highest level of LS was reported by persons with SCI living in the United States, Malaysia, and Switzerland (mean range, 3.76-3.80), and the lowest was reported by persons with SCI living in South Korea, Japan, and Morocco (mean range, 2.81-3.16). There was a significant cubic association between LS index and GDP-PPP. Regression tree analysis revealed the main variables differentiating LS index were GDP-PPP and monthly income, followed by time since injury and education.

CONCLUSIONS: Life satisfaction reported by persons with SCI related mainly to their country economic situation expressed by GDP-PPP and monthly income. The results of this study underscore the need for policy dialogues to avoid inequalities and improve the life experience in persons with SCI.

* Title and MeSH Headings from MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.

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