title: Factors Affecting Quality of Life Among Spinal Cord Injury Patients in Korea.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Complaints from spinal cord injury (SCI) patients are typically related to physical disability affecting activities of daily life. However, difficulties with voiding and defecation and/or sexual function can also be major concerns. The general population and even physicians are generally unaware of these complaints; therefore, this study focuses on surveying SCI patients regarding challenges that are faced in daily life.
  
  
  METHODS
  A questionnaire was administered randomly and anonymously to SCI patients who visited the Korea Spinal Cord Injury Association and several rehabilitation hospitals in the Republic of Korea in 2013. All participants gave their consent prior to filling out the questionnaire.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 299 patients answered the questionnaire; the male to female ratio was 5.8:1 and common vectors for injury were motor vehicle accidents, industrial accidents, and falling down. Of the 169 patients who answered the 'most troublesome' and 'wish would improve' complaints questionnaire properly, urinary problems were most common, specifically incontinence and urinary tract infection. Among all patients, 67% were using clean intermittent catheterization, 63% were taking voiding-related medications, 83% had sexual desires, and among the 122 patients who did not have offspring, 27% had future plans for children.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  From this questionnaire, we discovered that SCI patients in the South Korea suffer not only from physical disability but also many other quality-of-life-related problems. When managing SCI patients, physicians should show greater concern and educate patients about problems related to voiding and sexual activity, rather than just physical disability.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Jong Soo
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-9984-1138
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Sang Woon
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Sang Hyun
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Jee
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, The Catholic University of Korea College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Joon Chul
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Ajou University College of Medicine, Suwon, Korea.
authors.forename: Jong Bo
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Sung Yong
authors.identifier: 0000-0001-9271-6951
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Jang Hwan
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-9056-7072
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Kim
keywords: Quality of Life; Sexual Behavior; Spinal Cord Injuries; Surveys and Questionnaires; Urination Disorders