Article

OBJECTIVES: To examine the change in multidimensional fatigue in people with
spinal cord injury during post-acute rehabilitation, and to compare these scores
with those of healthy adults. Furthermore, to examine correlations between
different dimensions of fatigue at discharge and demographics, injury-related
variables and indices of psychological adjustment. DESIGN: Longitudinal cohort
study. SUBJECTS: From 86 patients admitted for spinal cord injury rehabilitation,
between June 2011 and January 2013, 78 met the inclusion criteria, and 70 (90%)
agreed to participate. METHODS: Self-reported questionnaires were completed at
admission and in the week before discharge. Questionnaires used assessed
demographics, injury-related variables, multidimensional fatigue, and
psychological adjustment. RESULTS: At admission, fatigue scores were very high
and decreased significantly during rehabilitation. At discharge, fatigue scores
were still significantly higher than those of healthy adults. The fatigue total
score at discharge was weakly associated with demographic variables and
injury-related variables. Psychological adjustment variables explained the
largest proportion of variance of the fatigue total score and each of the
subscales. CONCLUSION: Fatigue is an important consequence in people with
recently acquired spinal cord injury. Associations between fatigue and
psychological adjustment suggest that psychological interventions might be useful
to diminish fatigue.

Langue : ANGLAIS