title: Perceived causes of change in function and quality of life for people with long duration spinal cord injury.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine those factors perceived to change or threaten function and quality of life among individuals with long duration spinal cord injury.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective self-report using telephone-administered questionnaire.
  
  
  METHODS
  Queensland, Australia.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eighty-four community-resident persons with spinal cord injury.
  
  
  METHODS
  Functional Independence Measure, Delighted-Terrible Scale, Perceived Causes of Change Inventory.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Pain and loss of strength were perceived to have caused change in function in 11.9% and 14.3% of participants respectively while these same factors were perceived to have caused change in quality of life in 19.0% and 17.9% of participants respectively. Even when measurable change had not occurred, pain and loss of strength were perceived threats to function in 45.2% and 44.0% of participants respectively, while these same factors were perceived threats to quality of life in 10.7% and 11.9% of individuals respectively. Emotional issues such as stress, depression, family functioning, financial status and employment were also perceived causes of change in quality of life.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The ability of participants to identify the perceived causes of change in function and quality of life may have implications for preventative health care if these individuals are encouraged to seek assistance when these factors first become apparent.
authors.affiliation: Spinal Injuries Unit, Princess Alexandra Hospital, Buranda, Australia.
authors.forename: Glenda L
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Price
authors.forename: Melissa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kendall
authors.forename: Delena I
authors.initials: DI
authors.lastname: Amsters
authors.forename: Kiley J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Pershouse
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D001294:Attitude to Health; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life; D011793:Queensland; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000145:classification / Q000523:psychology*; D013315:Stress, Psychological; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors