Article

PURPOSE: To validate a single item self-report of satisfaction with participation
in two groups with differing patterns of symptoms and disease progress, multiple
sclerosis (MS) and spinal cord injury (SCI). METHOD: Community-dwelling adults
with MS (N = 1,271) or SCI (N = 620) completed a battery of self-report
questionnaires covering demographic information, disease specific measures,
symptoms, psychological distress, social-environmental issues, and overall
well-being. They were also asked to rate satisfaction with participation: How
satisfied are you with your ability to take part in activities that are important
to you: not satisfied, somewhat satisfied, satisfied, or very satisfied.
Kendall's tau rank correlation coefficient and chi(2) tests were used to examine
the strength and direction of associations between demographic and symptom
variables and responses to the participation item. RESULTS: Although the
demographics of the MS and SCI differed in predictable ways, younger participants
and those employed report more satisfaction with participation. Ratings of
satisfaction with participation were also consistently associated with a number
of variables including less fatigue, pain, depression, stress, anxiety, as well
as higher overall measures of well-being across the two populations. CONCLUSIONS:
More research is needed to better understand the multiple dimensions that
comprise participation and to develop robust and sensitive measurement tools. A
global rating of satisfaction with participation using one item has a number of
potentially useful applications including description of case mix in clinical
trials.

Langue : ANGLAIS