Article

OBJECTIVE: To investigate changes and identify predictors in interpersonal
functioning and sexual life after traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI). DESIGN: Prospective, multicenter, follow-up observational study.
SETTING: Subjects at
home, interviewed by phone during a 6-month period, 3.8 mean years after
discharge from 24 centers participating in a previous epidemiologic prospective
survey. PARTICIPANTS: Subjects (N=403) with traumatic SCI. INTERVENTIONS: Not
applicable. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Dependent variables: satisfaction with
sentimental life and satisfaction with sexual life compared with before the
injury. Independent variables: demographic (age, sex, marital status, vocational
status), SCI related (severity, level, bowel/bladder continence), car-driving
ability, perceived quality of life (QoL), and impact of sentimental life, social
integration, and vocational status on QoL. RESULTS: Satisfaction with sentimental
life was reportedly increased or the same as before SCI in 69% of the sample, but
satisfaction with sexual life in only 31%. Lesser satisfaction with sexual life
was reported by men than women (P=.002) and by married people than singles
(P<.001). Significant predictors of sentimental life were perceived QoL and
preserved driving ability (R(2)=.195). Bladder continence was positively
associated with a better satisfaction with sexual life (R(2)=.368). Bowel
continence did not remain a significant predictor of satisfaction with sexual
life in multivariate analysis. CONCLUSIONS: The challenge of a comprehensive
rehabilitation of SCI, addressing the recovery of well-being including a
satisfying sentimental and sexual life, requires identifying new issues that
should be considered in up-to-date rehabilitation programs.
The results indicate
associations between driving ability and a better satisfaction with sentimental
life. Further investigations are needed to explore whether the relationship is
causative.
CI - Copyright (c) 2012 American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine. Published by
Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Langue : ANGLAIS