title: Health-related quality of life in individuals with spinal cord injury in Colombia, South America.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess health-related quality of life (HRQOL) of individuals with Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) in Neiva, Colombia.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional.
  
  
  METHODS
  40 Colombians with SCI and 42 age- and gender-matched controls completed the SF-36, a self-report measure composed of eight component areas (physical health problems, role limitations due to personal or emotional problems, emotional well-being, social functioning, energy/fatigue, and general health perceptions).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Compared to healthy controls, individuals with SCI had significantly lower means on five SF-36 subscales: physical functioning (22.5 vs. 94.0; p < 0.001), role limitations due to physical problems (54.4 vs. 77.4; p < 0.01), social functioning (67.5 vs. 80.1; p < 0.05), pain (65.4 vs. 79.5; p < 0.01), and general health (54.9 vs. 69.4; p < 0.01). Both groups scored similarly on the SF-36 emotional well-being subscale.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Individuals with SCI from Neiva, Colombia report having poorer quality of life across various domains than healthy controls, primarily in the area of physical functioning. These findings suggest the need for rehabilitation health professionals to develop and implement interventions to improve HRQOL in individuals with SCI.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Virginia Commonwealth University, Rehabilitation Psychology and Neuropsychology, School of Medicine, MCV Campus,West Hospital, Richmond, VA 23298, USA. jcarangolasp@vcu.edu
authors.forename: Juan Carlos
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Arango-Lasprilla
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Nicholls
authors.forename: Silvia Leonor
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Olivera
authors.forename: Jose Libardo
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Perdomo
authors.forename: Jose Anselmo
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Arango
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003105:Colombia; D004644:Emotions; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009043:Motor Activity; D010146:Pain; D011788:Quality of Life; D012919:Social Behavior; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires