Psychological distress and user experiences with health care provision in persons living with spinal cord injury for more than 20 years

TY - JOUR

T1 - Psychological distress and user experiences with health care provision in persons living with spinal cord injury for more than 20 years

AU - Jakimovska, V M

AU - Kostovski, E

AU - Biering-Sørensen, F

AU - Lidal, I B

PY - 2017/9/1

Y1 - 2017/9/1

N2 - Study design:Descriptive cross-sectional and retrospective study.Objectives:To gain more insight into the long-term health status in persons with traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI), especially perceived psychological distress as well as self-reports of utilization of healthcare services.Setting:Sunnaas Rehabilitation Hospital, Norway.Methods:In total, 147 persons with SCI were examined for more than 20 years and interviewed (in 2004/2005) using a self-administrated questionnaire and General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-20). Descriptive statistics and a logistic regression analysis were conducted to identify variables associated with psychological distress.Results:Most participants had received SCI follow-up health services at least once after initial rehabilitation; 34% were satisfied, 51% neutral and 18% unsatisfied with the health services provided. Concerning psychological distress, 34 persons were cases according to the GHQ-20. The cases did not differ from non-cases concerning demography, time since injury, injury aetiology, injury severity, marital status or employment status. The regression analysis revealed that cases were associated (P<0.05) with more use of SCI-specific follow-ups.Conclusion:In a 20+ years' post-injury SCI population, psychological distress is common and associated with the use of follow-up services. The varying satisfaction of people with SCI about healthcare services is notable, as is the finding that 20% of people with paraplegia did not use specific SCI follow-up services. The experiences of people with SCI with healthcare services need further investigation, and there is also a need for studies that examine the effects of interventions aimed at improving services and patient satisfaction.

AB - Study design:Descriptive cross-sectional and retrospective study.Objectives:To gain more insight into the long-term health status in persons with traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI), especially perceived psychological distress as well as self-reports of utilization of healthcare services.Setting:Sunnaas Rehabilitation Hospital, Norway.Methods:In total, 147 persons with SCI were examined for more than 20 years and interviewed (in 2004/2005) using a self-administrated questionnaire and General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-20). Descriptive statistics and a logistic regression analysis were conducted to identify variables associated with psychological distress.Results:Most participants had received SCI follow-up health services at least once after initial rehabilitation; 34% were satisfied, 51% neutral and 18% unsatisfied with the health services provided. Concerning psychological distress, 34 persons were cases according to the GHQ-20. The cases did not differ from non-cases concerning demography, time since injury, injury aetiology, injury severity, marital status or employment status. The regression analysis revealed that cases were associated (P<0.05) with more use of SCI-specific follow-ups.Conclusion:In a 20+ years' post-injury SCI population, psychological distress is common and associated with the use of follow-up services. The varying satisfaction of people with SCI about healthcare services is notable, as is the finding that 20% of people with paraplegia did not use specific SCI follow-up services. The experiences of people with SCI with healthcare services need further investigation, and there is also a need for studies that examine the effects of interventions aimed at improving services and patient satisfaction.

KW - Adult

KW - Aged

KW - Aged, 80 and over

KW - Chronic Disease

KW - Cross-Sectional Studies

KW - Female

KW - Follow-Up Studies

KW - Health Status

KW - Humans

KW - Interviews as Topic

KW - Logistic Models

KW - Male

KW - Middle Aged

KW - Patient Acceptance of Health Care/psychology

KW - Retrospective Studies

KW - Self Report

KW - Spinal Cord Injuries/psychology

KW - Stress, Psychological

KW - Young Adult

U2 - 10.1038/sc.2017.29

DO - 10.1038/sc.2017.29

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 28322242

SN - 1362-4393

VL - 55

SP - 864

EP - 869

JO - Spinal Cord

JF - Spinal Cord

IS - 9

ER -