Extending Veteran Participation in the Validation of the SCI-QOL/CAT

VA Office of Research and Development284 enrolled

Overview

The field of spinal cord injury rehabilitation medicine lacks a reliable, patient reported, health-related quality of life measurement tool. The National Institute of Health has provided funding to develop a spinal cord injury-specific, quality of life survey tool in non-Veterans with spinal cord injury called the spinal cord injury-quality of life (SCI-QOL). This quality of life survey asks questions regarding physical/medical, emotional, and social health as it relates to individuals with spinal cord injury. The purpose of this study is to include a Veteran population in the making of the quality of life survey. Each participant will be asked to complete a packet of quality of life questions. Participants will be given the opportunity to take the survey a second time, either 7-14 days or 5-7 months after the first survey. Taking the survey twice will allow the research team to test the reliability of the survey. Comparing the SCI-QOL with other legacy measures will allow the investigators to test the validity of the survey. Additionally, the investigators will be testing the SCI-QOL between Veterans and non-Veterans with SCI to determine if there are differences in their self-reported quality of life. This study will be recruiting participants at the James J. Peters Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Bronx, New York and the James A. Haley Veterans Affairs Hospital, Tampa, Florida.

Study Type

OBSERVATIONAL

Enrollment

284

Conditions

Spinal Cord Injuries

Eligibility

Sex: ALLMin age: 18 YearsMax age: 89 Years

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria: * Male and female Veterans with traumatic spinal cord injury * At least 18 years old * Persons judged by their primary care doctor to be competent * Able to read * Fluent in English. Exclusion Criteria: * Veterans with non-traumatic spinal cord injury ("non-traumatic" is defined as any injury from a chronic condition that resulted in decline of function due to the paralysis. These conditions include, but are not limited to: multiple sclerosis, arteriole-venous malformation, nerve impingement syndromes, congenital birth defects, or other) * Diagnosis of a cognitive impairment (in the clinical chart) such that it limit the subject's ability to read, understand, and respond to statements about quality of life * Not fluent in English.

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

SCI-QoL Independence

Average score on a questionnaire about level of independence. The minimum score on the scale is 24.6 and the maximum is 68.9. Fifty is the average score. Values below 50 indicate a worse outcome. Values above 50 represent a better outcome.

Time frame: Baseline

Secondary Outcomes

SCI-QoL Ability to Participate in Social Roles and Activities

Average score on a SCI-QoL Ability to Participate in Social Roles and Activities scale. The minimum score on the scale is 25.1 and the maximum is 61.1. A higher score represents better functioning (more ability to participate in social roles and activities).

Time frame: Baseline

SCI-QoL Anxiety

Average score on SCI-QoL Anxiety. The minimum score on the scale is 36.3 and the maximum is 84.2. A higher score represents more anxiety (worse functioning). A lower score represents less anxiety (better functioning).

Time frame: Baseline

SCI-QoL Bowel Management Difficulties

Average score on SCI-QoL Bowel Management Difficulties. The minimum score on the scale is 39.2 and the maximum is 76.3. A higher score represents more bowel management difficulties (worse functioning). A lower score represents fewer bowel management difficulties (better functioning).

Time frame: Baseline

SCI-QoL Bladder Management Difficulties

Average score on SCI-QoL Bladder Management Difficulties. The minimum score on the scale is 39.7 and the maximum is 76.8. A higher score represents more bladder management difficulties (worse functioning). A lower score represents fewer bladder management difficulties (better functioning).

Time frame: Baseline

SCI-QoL Depression

Average score on SCI-QoL Depression. The minimum score on the scale is 38.3 and the maximum is 81.9. A higher score represents more depression (worse functioning). A lower score represents less depression (better functioning).

Time frame: Baseline

SCI-QoL Pain Behavior

Average score on SCI-QoL Pain Behavior. The minimum score on the scale is 38.2 and the maximum is 76.1. A higher score represents more pain behavior (worse functioning). A lower score represents less pain behavior (better functioning).

Time frame: Baseline

SCI-QoL Pain Interference

Average score on SCI-QoL Pain Interference. The minimum score on the scale is 40.2 and the maximum is 79.7. A higher score represents more pain interference (worse functioning). A lower score represents less anxiety (better functioning).

Time frame: Baseline

SCI-QoL Positive Affect and Well-being

Average score on SCI-QoL Positive Affect and Well-being. The minimum score on the scale is 26.7 and the maximum is 68.6. A higher score represents more positive affect and well-being (better functioning).

Time frame: Baseline

SCI-QoL Resilience

Average score on SCI-QoL Resilience. The minimum score on the scale is 16.4 and the maximum is 66.4. A higher score represents more resilience (better functioning).

Time frame: Baseline

SCI-QoL Satisfaction With Social Roles and Activities

Average score on SCI-QoL Satisfaction with Social Roles and Activities. The minimum score on the scale is 28.3 and the maximum is 60.5. A higher score represents more satisfaction with social roles and activities (better functioning).

Time frame: Baseline

SCI-QoL Stigma

Average score on SCI-QoL Stigma. The minimum score on the scale is 37.8 and the maximum is 77.3. A higher score represents more stigma (worse functioning). A lower score represents less stigma (better functioning).

Time frame: Baseline

SCI-QoL Trauma

Average score on SCI-QoL Trauma. The minimum score on the scale is 38.4 and the maximum is 85.2. A higher score represents more trauma (worse functioning). A lower score represents less trauma (better functioning).

Time frame: Baseline

Extending Veteran Participation in the Validation of the SCI-QOL/CAT

Overview

Conditions

Eligibility

Locations (2)

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Secondary Outcomes