title: Health status rated with the Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey after spinal cord injury.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe the health status of Australians with spinal cord injury (SCI).
  
  
  METHODS
  Survey.
  
  
  METHODS
  Australian population-based sample.
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants (N=305) with SCI at recruitment to a randomized trial.
  
  
  METHODS
  Not applicable.
  
  
  METHODS
  Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36) health questionnaire.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Compared with the general population, our sample reported significantly lower scores in 6 SF-36 domains (physical function, role-physical, bodily pain, general health, social function, vitality) and the physical component summary (PCS) score, but unexpectedly higher mental component summary (MCS) scores (difference in mean MCS scores, 4.6; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.4-6.8). Compared with people with tetraplegia, those with paraplegia had better physical function and PCS scores (difference, 21; 95% CI, 17-24; difference, 3; 95% CI, 1-5, respectively), and worse bodily pain scores (difference, 9; 95% CI, 2-15). Recent urinary infections were associated with worse general health, vitality, mental health, and MCS scores. Receiving family or external physical care was associated with worse physical function and PCS scores, but better mental health and MCS scores. Older age at injury was associated with lower bodily pain and PCS scores.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Using the SF-36, Australians with SCI rate their physical (not mental) health status as worse than the general population.
authors.affiliation: Dept of Aged Care and Rehabilitation Medicine, Royal North Shore Hospital, Sydney, Australia. mharan@med.usyd.edu.au
authors.forename: Mark J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Haran
authors.forename: Bonsan B
authors.initials: BB
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Madeleine T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: King
authors.forename: Obaydullah
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Marial
authors.forename: Martin R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Stockler
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D017281:Cost of Illness; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009517:New South Wales / Q000453:epidemiology; D010264:Paraplegia / Q000453:epidemiology; D011782:Quadriplegia / Q000453:epidemiology; D018401:Sample Size; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric