title: Race: predictor versus proxy variable? Outcomes after spinal cord injury.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine the impact of race on acute, rehabilitation, and long-term outcomes after spinal cord injury (SCI).
  
  
  METHODS
  Two case control studies (study 1: acute and rehabilitation outcomes, study 2: long-term outcomes) in which white and nonwhite individuals were matched case for case on multiple demographic, medical, and geographic characteristics with the rationale being that a case-control methodology would increase the internal validity of the design, thereby increasing confidence in the assertion that any between-group differences observed may be specifically attributed to race.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data drawn from the Spinal Cord Injury Model Systems. Institutional practice and general community.
  
  
  METHODS
  Study 1: 187 pairs of individuals, study 2: 158 pairs of matched individuals.
  
  
  METHODS
  Not applicable.
  
  
  METHODS
  Outcome measures assessed included economic (eg, cost of care), treatment-related (eg, length of hospital stay), functional (eg, FIM instrument), and medical (eg, number of medical complications) variables, as well as self-reported life satisfaction, level of handicap, and mental and physical health.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In study 1, none of the outcome measures differed significantly across racial groups. Similarly, study 2 failed to indicate significant differences in any of the outcome variables across racial groups, with the exception that nonwhites were at increased risk of greater self-reported handicap in the area of mobility. Power analyses indicated these finding were not merely the result of inadequate power.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  For the outcomes assessed in studies 1 and 2, race appeared to act primarily as a proxy for other variables (eg, injury severity, age, educational achievement), which in turn may be associated with poor outcome after SCI. Theoretical implications and recommendations are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of Alabama, 1717 6th Avenue S, Birmingham, AL 35233-7330, USA.
authors.forename: John David
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Putzke
authors.forename: Bret L
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Hicken
authors.forename: J Scott
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Richards
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American / Q000193:education / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D017048:Health Care Costs / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006302:Health Services Research; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008134:Long-Term Care / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000523:psychology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011788:Quality of Life; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000150:complications / Q000191:economics / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D044465:White People / Q000193:education / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*