THE INFLUENCE OF PAIN ON PHYSICAL HEALTH QUALITY OF LIFE IN MANUAL WHEELCHAIR USERS WITH SPINAL CORD INJURY

Background: Pain after spinal cord injury is common and individuals who report pain as a serious problem also report a significant interference with activity of daily living, mobility functioning, social participation with friends and community participation. The overall impact of pain includes emotional distress and depression, self-perception of health; quality of life; physical, psychological and social functioning.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to determine the influence of pain on the physical health quality of life of manual wheelchair users with spinal cord injury in Gauteng, South Africa.

Methods: Seventy-five community-dwelling manual wheelchair users participated in the study from January 2019 to December 2019. The physical health domain of the World Health Organization quality of life questionnaire (WHOQOL-BREF) was used to determine physical health quality of life in this study. Data were analysed using SPSS v26 and Fisher’s exact test of association was used to determine relationships between pain and physical health quality of life. Testing was done at .05 level of significance.

Results: Majority of manual wheelchair users reported the presence of pain (79%), with neuropathic pain more common than musculoskeletal pain (44% vs 11%). Average physical health quality of life was 61% and those who reported pain rated their health as well as sleep satisfaction as ‘neither satisfied nor dissatisfied’ (p < .05 respectively). Pain moderately prevented them from doing what they needed to do (p < .05), especially if they reported more than one painful location (p < .01).

Conclusion(s): Pain remains a problem that negatively influences physical health quality of life, interferes with daily activities and poses a health challenge as it hinders manual wheelchair users from being fully satisfied with their health. There is a need to develop effective strategies to relieve pain and improve health satisfaction and overall quality of life in affected individuals with spinal cord injury.

Implications: Pain is one of the distressing experiences that can diminish enjoyment, productivity and relationships enough to negatively influence quality of life. This study's findings further support the need to implement the biopsychosocial model when considering pain management in people with spinal cord injury. Both the affected individuals and healthcare professionals are important stakeholders in this endeavor.

Funding, acknowledgements: Funding provided by the National Research Fund Thuthuka Grant (TTK180416321193) and partial funding from the Southern African Spinal Cord Association

Keywords: Pain, Spinal cord injury, Quality of life

Topic: Neurology: spinal cord injury

Did this work require ethics approval? Yes

Institution: University of Pretoria

Committee: Faculty of Health Sciences Research Ethics Committee

Ethics number: 125/2018