[Exploration of the goals for the quality of life in primary rehabilitation after spinal cord injury].

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Surveyed references indicate improvement of rehabilitation outcomes if based on exploration of personal rehabilitation goals or quality of life goals. Purpose of our study is mapping of quality of life goals of persons entering rehabilitation by structured interviews, and study of applicability of the method.

METHODS

Structured interviews have been performed with persons consecutively admitted for their first rehabilitation intervention, meeting inclusion criteria. World Health Organization's quality of life measure brief version and disability module served as guideline for the interviews. For study any negative effect on rehabilitation of our approach we have compared rehabilitation outcomes of consecutively admitted persons immediately before starting our study (58) and those with closed rehabilitation intervention (53). For this purpose the Functional Independence Measure was used. Finally content analysis of the interviews has been performed.

RESULTS

In 24 cases complications and psychological instability have prevented the inclusion, seven persons did not agree into participation in the study. Of the 71 interview participants the rehabilitation of 53 persons concluded. Their rehabilitation outcomes are better as of the control group significant difference has been measured in the social functions domain. Quality of life of included persons decreased during the rehabilitation process insignificantly, the autonomy domain showed insignificant improvement, the inclusion domain did not change. Content analysis revealed the outstanding role of the family among quality of life goals.

CONCLUSIONS

Reported results indicate that exploration of quality of life goals of persons in early phase of rehabilitation after spinal cord injury is feasible. The selected quality of life measure may well support the interviews.