Article

OBJECTIVES: To compare the health-related
quality of life (HRQoL) in people with spinal cord injury (SCI) who use the
Internet versus those who don't and with a control group of able-bodied
individuals. To investigate the frequency of Internet usage before and after
injury. To evaluate the differences in terms of demographic features of both
groups, analyze the variation in the Internet usage pattern of people with SCI
before and after the injury.Setting:Istanbul, Turkey. METHODS: A total of 60
people with SCI (38 Internet users, 22 nonusers) were included in the study. The
control group consisted of 33 healthy persons of similar age and sex. The HRQoL
was evaluated with the SF-36 Health Survey. RESULTS: The scores of all the
subscales of the SF-36, except vitality, were significantly lower in people with
SCI than those of the controls'. The bodily pain subscale and physical component
scores were found to be significantly higher in people with SCI using the
Internet than the nonuser group with SCI (P<0.05). The Internet usage frequency
increased significantly in people with SCI after injury (P<0.05). A significant
correlation was found between time since injury and Internet use (r=0.365,
P=0.007). CONCLUSION: Although HRQoL scores were lower in people with an SCI, the
physical status component score was better in the Internet user SCI group. As
there is a significant increase in the time spent online after injury, the
Internet could be an effective modality to contact and educate people with an
SCI.

Langue : ANGLAIS