Article

OBJECTIVE: To describe preventive health examinations/tests and behaviors of persons with traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI). SETTING: SCI
clinic and telephone contact. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 59 persons >/=18 years of
age with traumatic SCI.
OUTCOME MEASURES: Preventive health examinations/tests and reason for not receiving an examination or test.
RESULTS: Preventive health tests/examinations received within the past year: flu
vaccination (40.7%); eye examination (50.8%); dental check-up (64.4%); physical
examination (61.0%); vitamin D level (56.0%); cholesterol level (25.4%); and
blood glucose level (39.0%). For men, 20.0% had a prostate examination and 20.0%
had a colonoscopy. For women, 25.0% had a pelvic examination and 62.5% had a
mammogram in the past 2 years. The most endorsed reasons for not getting an
examination/test was "It was my choice" followed by "No one told me to have
[examination/test]." The number of years injured had an inverse relationship with
having vitamin D level checked (r = -334) and had a positive association with
having serum cholesterol level checked (r = .474). CONCLUSION: Preventive health
tests and examinations in the SCI population are being obtained at about the same
rate as in the U.S. population with some exceptions (ie, cholesterol level check,
colonoscopy, and pelvic examination); however, the rates are far from the goals
of Healthy People 2020.
Primary care and SCI clinicians should be proactive in
educating their patients about the importance of preventive health, especially
those who have been injured for a long time.
CI - Copyright (c) 2013 American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation.
Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Langue : ANGLAIS