Secondary conditions and women with physical disabilities: a descriptive study.
OBJECTIVE
To examine secondary conditions and their relationship to life satisfaction in women with physical disabilities.


METHODS
Survey research.


METHODS
Metropolitan Philadelphia.


METHODS
Women aged 18 to 65 years with self-reported functional limitations associated with neurologic, neuromuscular, brain, sensory, arthritic, spinal cord, orthopedic, or other chronic conditions.


METHODS
Secondary conditions, health status, functional status, and life satisfaction.


RESULTS
In the past year, an average of 12 +/- 6.1 (SD) secondary conditions were experienced. Fatigue, mobility, physical deconditioning, spasticity, and joint pain were reported most frequently, followed by depression, chronic pain, access problems, weight problems, and isolation. In comparing women with multiple sclerosis (MS) and those with other disabling conditions, women with MS had higher secondary conditions problem index (SCPI) scores for bladder, bowel, and sexual dysfunction than women in the mixed disability group. Other secondary conditions with the highest SCPI scores remained similar. Self-reported emotional health status and SCPI scores were the only significant predictors of life satisfaction.


CONCLUSIONS
Secondary conditions influence health status and quality of life for women with physical disabilities. Despite differences among disability groups in terms of the type of secondary conditions, common secondary conditions experienced by most women may be amenable to non-disability-specific health promotion programs.
Coyle
C P
CP
Department of Health Studies, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA 19122, USA. ccoyle00@nimbus.temple.edu
Santiago
M C
MC
Shank
J W
JW
Ma
G X
GX
Boyd
R
R
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000328:Adult; D002908:Chronic Disease / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D015897:Comorbidity; D006233:Persons with Disabilities / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008603:Mental Health; D008875:Middle Aged; D015143:Philadelphia / Q000453:epidemiology; D011788:Quality of Life