Subjective health in spinal cord injury after outpatient healthcare follow-up

Objective: To compare self-reported health, independence, and depression in two samples of people with spinal cord injury (SCI), one which receives regular, comprehensive outpatient health care follow-up and one that does not. Design: Exploratory study of self-reported secondary conditions in 235 individuals with SCI who received health care follow-up using post hoc quasi-experimental comparisons with a group of 136 people with SCI who had no health care follow-up. Setting: Outpatients at a Veterans Affairs Health Care System SCI Center. Main Outcome Measures: The Check Your Health Instrument surveyed three self-report measures: overall health, independence, and depression. The Secondary Conditions Screening Instrument (SCSI) addressed 40 secondary conditions that map have been experienced in the prior year. Results: Study participants who receive ongoing SCI health care reported higher subjective health, independence, and absence of depression scores compared to those that did not receive regular SCI health care follow-up. Results on the SCSI showed similar secondary conditions in the two groups, but higher frequency and severity in the no follow-up group. Conclusion: SCI outpatient health care follow-up is associated with higher subjective health, independence, and absence of depression.