Pj. Manns et Ke. Chad, Components of quality of life for persons with a quadriplegic and paraplegic spinal cord injury, QUAL HEAL R, 11(6), 2001, pp. 795-811
This investigation determined the themes that represented quality of life f
or persons with a spinal cord injury. Fifteen people (6 females, 9 males; 7
persons with quadriplegia, 8 with paraplegia) participated in this study,
which used naturalistic inquiry methodologies. Results showed that quality
of life for this population, regardless of severity of impairment, consiste
d of nine themes: (a) physical function and independence, (b) accessibility
, (c) emotional well-being, (d) stigma, (e) spontaneity, (f) relationships
and social function, (g) occupation, (h) finances, and (i) physical well-be
ing. The themes of life quality were similar for quadriplegics and parapleg
ics; however, physical function and independence and physical well-being af
fected the quality of life of persons with a quadriplegic injury to a great
er extent. These findings may provide health professionals with information
necessary to assist in the development of programs to enhance quality of l
ife.