Article

Multi-center, cross-sectional study. OBJECTIVES: To investigate the
effects of different bladder management methods on the quality of life (QoL) in
patients with spinal cord injury (SCI). SETTING: Turkey. METHODS: Consecutive SCI
patients (n=195, 74.4% males), for whom at least 6 months had elapsed since the
injury, were included and evaluated in five groups: normal spontaneous
micturition (NSM), micturition with assisted maneuvers (MAM), aseptic
intermittent catheterization by patient (IC-P), aseptic IC by an
attendant/caregiver (IC-A) and indwelling catheterization. The King's Health
Questionnaire was used to evaluate the patients' QoL. RESULTS: The bladder
management groups were similar regarding age, time elapsed since injury,
education level, marital and occupational status. There was no difference among
the groups in general health perception, personal relationships and sleep/energy
domain scores. While the NSM group had generally the lowest scores, that is,
better QoL, the IC-A group had the highest scores, that is, poorer QoL, in most
of the domains. When the patients were grouped according to the frequency of
urinary incontinence or American Spinal Injury Association Impairment Scale
grades, no difference was found in the domain scores of the groups except the
symptom severity domain scores. No significant difference was found between
paraplegic and tetraplegic patients in the King's Health Questionnaire domains.
CONCLUSION: The QoL was notably affected in SCI patients in IC-A group and
negative effects on emotional status, physical and social activity limitations
were observed, as well.

Langue : ANGLAIS