Access and engagement with places in the community, and the quality of life among people with spinal cord damage

Abstract

Objectives

This study aims to investigate the association between self-reported accessibility and engagement with health services and places in the community, and quality of life (QOL) for people with spinal cord damage (SCD).

Design

Cross-sectional survey.

Setting

Community.

Participants

Two-hundred and sixty-six people with a SCD residing in Australia (M_age = 62.34, SD_age = 15.95).

Outcome Measure

The International Spinal Cord Injury Quality of Life Basic Data Set.

Results

Univariate regressions demonstrated that accessing a higher number of places in the community was significantly associated with favorable self-reported psychological health (β = .160, P < .01), physical health (β = .144, P < .01), overall well-being (β = .206, P < .01), and QOL (β = .187, P < .01). In contrast, reporting a higher number of inaccessible places was significantly associated with unfavorable self-reported psychological health (β = −.171, P < .01), physical health (β = −.270, P < .001), overall well-being (β = −.238, P < .001), and QOL (β = −.244, P < .001). Being older and living with injury or onset of damage longer were significantly associated with favorable scores across all outcomes (P < .01) except physical health.

Conclusions

Community engagement can have a considerable impact on the self-reported health and QOL of people with SCD. Interventions aimed at increasing community engagement, particularly for people who have recently experienced SCD are warranted.

Keywords:

• Community engagement
• Spinal cord damage
• Quality of life
• Accessibility
• Psychological health
• Physical health

Acknowledgements

This study was funded by a Griffith University New Researcher Grant. Ethical approval to conduct this study was provided by the Griffith University Human Research Ethics Committee (see protocol ID: 2018/004). During the study design, data collection and preliminary analysis phases of this research Dr Ali Lakhani was employed as a Research Fellow with The Hopkins Centre, Menzies Health Institute Queensland. During this time his role was funded by the Motor Accident Insurance Commission Queensland and Griffith University.

Disclaimer statements

Contributors None.

Funding This study was funded by a Griffith University New Researcher Grant.

Conflicts of interest Authors have no conflict of interests to declare.