Subjective health in spinal cord injury after outpatient healthcare follow-up

Objective: To compare self-reported health, independence, and depression in two samples of people with spinal cord injury (SCI), one which receives re gular, comprehensive outpatient health care follow-up and one that does not . Design: Exploratory study of self-reported secondary conditions in 235 indi viduals with SCI who received health care follow-up using post hoc quasi-ex perimental comparisons with a group of 136 people with SCI who had no healt h care follow-up. Setting: Outpatients at a Veterans Affairs Health Care System SCI Center. Main Outcome Measures: The Check Your Health Instrument surveyed three self -report measures: overall health, independence, and depression. The Seconda ry Conditions Screening Instrument (SCSI) addressed 40 secondary conditions that map have been experienced in the prior year. Results: Study participants who receive ongoing SCI health care reported hi gher subjective health, independence, and absence of depression scores comp ared to those that did not receive regular SCI health care follow-up. Resul ts on the SCSI showed similar secondary conditions in the two groups, but h igher frequency and severity in the no follow-up group. Conclusion: SCI outpatient health care follow-up is associated with higher subjective health, independence, and absence of depression.