Subjective health in spinal cord injury after outpatient healthcare follow-up.

Abstract

To compare self-reported health, independence, and depression in two samples of people with spinal cord injury (SCI), one which receives regular, comprehensive outpatient health care follow-up and one that does not. Exploratory study of self-reported secondary conditions in 235 individuals with SCI who received health care follow-up using post hoc quasi-experimental comparisons with a group of 136 people with SCI who had no health care follow-up. Outpatients at a Veterans Affairs Health Care System SCI Center. The Check Your Health Instrument surveyed three self-report measures: overall health, independence, and depression. The Secondary Conditions Screening Instrument (SCSI) addressed 40 secondary conditions that may have been experienced in the prior year. Study participants who receive ongoing SCI health care reported higher subjective health, independence, and absence of depression scores compared to those that did not receive regular SCI health care follow-up. Results on the SCSI showed similar secondary conditions in the two groups, but higher frequency and severity in the no follow-up group. SCI outpatient health care follow-up is associated with higher subjective health, independence, and absence of depression.