title: Management of bladder dysfunction and satisfaction of life after spinal cord injury in Norway.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  There is limited knowledge about bladder dysfunction and bladder management in persons with spinal cord injury (SCI) after discharge from the hospital in Norway. The impact of bladder dysfunction on satisfaction of life has been rarely explored.
  
  
  METHODS
  Community-based survey from Norway.
  
  
  METHODS
  An anonymous cross-sectional postal survey. A questionnaire was sent to the registered members of the Norwegian Spinal Cord Injuries Association. A total of 400 participants, with traumatic or non-traumatic SCI, received the questionnaire.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 248 subjects (62%), 180 men and 68 women, answered the questionnaire. Mean age was 54 years and mean time since injury 13.4 years. A total of 164 participants (66.1%) used intermittent catheterization for bladder emptying (48.5% women versus 72.8% men); more paraplegics than tetraplegics (77.2% versus 55.7%). Recommendations given at the Spinal Cord Units were thoroughly followed by persons who had used catheters more than 5 years. Use of incontinence pads were associated with reduced satisfaction of life.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The most common method of management of bladder dysfunction is clean intermittent catheterization in Norway. Recommendations were followed more thoroughly by persons who have used intermittent catheterization for more than 5 years. Spinal Cord Units are important source for information and guidance.
authors.forename: Ellen Merete
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Hagen
authors.forename: Tiina
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Rekand
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006801:Humans; D016496:Incontinence Pads / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009664:Norway / Q000453:epidemiology; D017060:Patient Satisfaction / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015995:Prevalence; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D017678:Sex Distribution; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology* / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014546:Urinary Catheterization / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014549:Urinary Incontinence / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology* / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Bladder catheterization; Bladder management; Life satisfaction; Neurogenic bladder dysfunction; Spinal cord injury