Abstract:
This paper will report on the impact that pain and a low
level of self-efficacy (poor expectations of daily living) has
on the quality of life (QOL) in people with spinal cord
injury (SCI).The study included 106 persons with SCI
living in the community, enrolled into the study from
admission lists in a rehabilitation unit.Participants
completed the Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36) QOL
questionnaire as well as the Moorong Self-Efficacy Scale
(MSES).Persons with SCI were found to have lowered
QOL compared to the Australian general population
(p<.01).However, low self-efficacy and the presence of
chronic pain were found to reduce QOL across all SF-36
domains even further (p<.05).A combination of low selfefficacy
and pain was associated with an increased
reduction in QOL compared to reductions seen for these
factors by themselves (p<.05).Factors such as completeness
of lesion, sex, age at time of injury, time since injury were
not associated with reduced QOL.Cognitive behaviour
therapy rehabilitation strategies will need to concentrate on
improving QOL in SCI persons by targeting factors like
low self-efficacy and dealing with pain.
