title: The effects of using the Internet on the health-related quality of life in people with spinal cord injury: a controlled study.
abstract: METHODS
  Prospective cohort study.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To compare the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in people with spinal cord injury (SCI) who use the Internet versus those who don't and with a control group of able-bodied individuals. To investigate the frequency of Internet usage before and after injury. To evaluate the differences in terms of demographic features of both groups, analyze the variation in the Internet usage pattern of people with SCI before and after the injury.
  
  
  METHODS
  Istanbul, Turkey.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 60 people with SCI (38 Internet users, 22 nonusers) were included in the study. The control group consisted of 33 healthy persons of similar age and sex. The HRQoL was evaluated with the SF-36 Health Survey.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The scores of all the subscales of the SF-36, except vitality, were significantly lower in people with SCI than those of the controls'. The bodily pain subscale and physical component scores were found to be significantly higher in people with SCI using the Internet than the nonuser group with SCI (P<0.05). The Internet usage frequency increased significantly in people with SCI after injury (P<0.05). A significant correlation was found between time since injury and Internet use (r=0.365, P=0.007).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although HRQoL scores were lower in people with an SCI, the physical status component score was better in the Internet user SCI group. As there is a significant increase in the time spent online after injury, the Internet could be an effective modality to contact and educate people with an SCI.
authors: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Istanbul Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Training and Research Hospital, Bahcelievler-Istanbul, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors: B
authors: B
authors: Celik
authors: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Istanbul Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Training and Research Hospital, Bahcelievler-Istanbul, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors: K
authors: K
authors: Ones
authors: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Istanbul Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Training and Research Hospital, Bahcelievler-Istanbul, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors: E C
authors: EC
authors: Celik
authors: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Istanbul Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Training and Research Hospital, Bahcelievler-Istanbul, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors: D S
authors: DS
authors: Bugdayci
authors: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Istanbul Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Training and Research Hospital, Bahcelievler-Istanbul, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors: N
authors: N
authors: Paker
authors: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Istanbul Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Training and Research Hospital, Bahcelievler-Istanbul, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors: C
authors: C
authors: Avci
authors: Department of Public Health, Istanbul University Medical Faculty, Capa-Istanbul, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors: N
authors: N
authors: Ince
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology*; D014421:Turkey; D055815:Young Adult