Article

Adolescents with spina bifida experience decreased mobility especially
during the time of transition from pediatric to adult care, but little research
has been done on the relationships between mobility and self-management skills,
psychological health, or quality of life. DESIGN: In this multicenter,
interdisciplinary study, a convenience sample of 61 participants with spina
bifida from regional spina bifida clinics (mean age = 21.0 +/- 2.1 yrs)
participated in a structured clinical interview on self-management and completed
standardized self-report measures of psychological distress, quality of life, and
mobility status. Participants were divided into three mobility groups:
ambulators, part-time wheelchair users, and full-time wheelchair users and were
compared with respect to outcome measures. RESULTS: We found that full-time
wheelchair use is associated with reduced quality of life but that psychological
distress and problems with self-management are prevalent, regardless of mobility
status. CONCLUSION: Research should be aimed at assessing life satisfaction as it
relates to assistive technology use to delineate further how technological
advancements in wheelchair design and universal design of homes and communities
can have the greatest impact on mobility and quality of life.

Langue : ANGLAIS