Changes in life goals of people with neurological disabilities.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the relationship between changes in life goals and progression of disabilities among subjects with neurological disorders over a period of four years.


METHODS
Retrospective study.


METHODS
A centre for continuing disability management in the UK.


METHODS
Patients with static or progressive neurological disabilities.


METHODS
Review of rehabilitation team notes.


METHODS
Barthel ADL Index and Rivermead Life Goals Questionnaire from four consecutive annual assessments from 1997 to 2000.


RESULTS
Thirty-two subjects had progressive disabilities and 24 had static disabilities. In subjects with static disabilities there was no significant change in grades of any of the life goals over a period of four years. Among subjects with progressive disabilities, significant reductions were noted in importance given to partner (p = 0.034), work (p = 0.008) and leisure (p = 0.028) over four years. While there was no significant change in number of life goals considered as extremely important in subjects with static disabilities, there was a significant reduction in number of goals considered as extremely important in subjects with progressive disabilities (p = 0.022)


CONCLUSIONS
People with progressive disabilities tend to downgrade the significance attached to goals related to partner, work and leisure. They also reduce number of goals graded as extremely important. This change is not seen in people with static disability.
Nair
K P Sivaraman
KP
Rivermead Rehabilitation Centre, Oxford, UK. kpsnair@hotmail.com
Wade
Derick T
DT
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000328:Adult; D006233:Persons with Disabilities / Q000523:psychology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D006040:Goals; D006801:Humans; D007899:Leisure Activities / Q000523:psychology; D008016:Life Change Events; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009422:Nervous System Diseases / Q000523:psychology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018454:Spouses / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014937:Work / Q000523:psychology