Psychosocial and Behavioral Factors Associated with Bowel and Bladder Management after SCI.

摘要

The investigation has two aims. The first is to identify risk factors associated with loss of neurogenic bladder and bowel which may increase medical and psychosocial complications after SCI. The second aim is to determine the influence of bladder and bowel management, complications and psychosocial and behavioral factors on quality of life (QOL). A mixed method approach has been used for data collection and analysis. Qualitative individual interviews have been conducted with two groups of participants: persons with SCI (target N=40) and caregivers (target N=20). Interviews are supplemented by quantitative measures to evaluate the extent and severity of bowel and bladder related health problems and quality of life ratings. Data collection is complete at both research sites (N=60), including focus groups. All audio files have been transcribed and check for accuracy. Coding is also completed on all individual interviews with the focus group coding not yet completed. Data analysis is on-going and is currently focusing on an in-depth analysis of the nature and prevalence of SCI-related complications and their neurogenic bowel and bladder management; the identification of common themes across participants' transcripts, and qualitative and quantitative data comparisons based on military versus civilian status and time since injury. One presentation was given at an international conference: the International Society of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. Further deliverables included an extensive data analysis matrix of medical complications associated with bladder and bowel and quality of life, and one published article on women with spinal cord injury and neurogenic bladder and bowel.