title: Impact of pressure ulcers on individuals living with a spinal cord injury.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe the impact of pressure ulcers on the ability to participate in daily and community activities, health care utilization, and overall quality of life in individuals living with spinal cord injury (SCI).
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Nationwide survey.
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants (N=1137) with traumatic SCI who were >1 year postinjury and living in the community were recruited. Of these, 381 (33.5%, 95% confidence interval, 30.8%-36.3%) had a pressure ulcer over the last 12 months.
  
  
  METHODS
  Not applicable.
  
  
  METHODS
  Measures developed for the Rick Hansen Spinal Cord Injury Registry Community Follow-up Survey Version 2.0.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 381 individuals with pressure ulcers, 65.3% reported that their pressure ulcer reduced their activity to some extent or more. Pressure ulcers reduced the ability of individuals with SCI to participate in 19 of 26 community and daily activities. Individuals with 1 or 2 pressure ulcers were more dissatisfied with their ability to participate in their main activity than those without pressure ulcers (P=.0077). Pressure ulcers were also associated with a significantly higher number of consultations with family doctors, nurses, occupational therapists, and wound care nurses/specialists (P<.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Pressure ulcers have a significant impact on the daily life of individuals with SCI. Our findings highlight the importance of implementing pressure ulcer prevention and management programs for this high-risk population and require the attention of all SCI-related health care professionals.
authors.affiliation: Health and Rehabilitation Sciences Graduate Program, Western University, London, ON, Canada.
authors.forename: Deena
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lala
authors.affiliation: Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Rehabilitation and Social Integration, Quebec City, QC, Canada.
authors.forename: Frédéric S
authors.initials: FS
authors.lastname: Dumont
authors.affiliation: Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Rehabilitation and Social Integration, Quebec City, QC, Canada.
authors.forename: Jean
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Leblond
authors.affiliation: Health and Rehabilitation Sciences Graduate Program, Western University, London, ON, Canada; School of Physical Therapy, Western University, London, ON, Canada. Electronic address: phoughto@uwo.ca.
authors.forename: Pamela E
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: Houghton
authors.affiliation: Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Rehabilitation and Social Integration, Quebec City, QC, Canada; Department of Rehabilitation, Laval University, Quebec City, QC, Canada.
authors.forename: Luc
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Noreau
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000328:Adult; D002170:Canada; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004651:Employment; D005260:Female; D006296:Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010264:Paraplegia / Q000145:classification / Q000209:etiology; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D003668:Pressure Ulcer / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D011782:Quadriplegia / Q000145:classification / Q000209:etiology; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D058992:Social Participation; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000150:complications*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: Activities of daily living; Pressure ulcer; Quality of life; Rehabilitation; Spinal cord injuries