Health Care Utilization in Persons with Traumatic Spinal Cord Injury: The Importance of Multimorbidity and the Impact on Patient Outcomes

Top Spinal Cord Inj Rehabil, 2014 · DOI: 10.1310/sci2003-289 · Published: December 1, 2014

Simple Explanation

This study examines the relationship between multiple secondary health conditions, health care use, health status, and quality of life in people with traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI). The goal was to understand how these factors impact each other. Researchers analyzed data from a survey of 1,137 individuals with SCI, dividing them into three groups based on their health care utilization: those who didn't receive needed care or were rehospitalized, those who received care but were rehospitalized, and those who received care and were not rehospitalized. The study found that having more secondary health conditions and higher health care utilization were linked to lower health status and, in turn, lower quality of life. This suggests that managing multiple health issues is crucial for improving the well-being of individuals with SCI.

Study Duration

12 Months

Participants

1,137 community-dwelling persons with traumatic SCI

Evidence Level

Not specified

Key Findings

1
Participants who did not receive needed care and/or were rehospitalized had the greatest number of secondary health conditions compared to the other groups.
2
Multimorbidity and health care utilization were significant risk factors for lower mental and physical health scores.
3
Lower health status, as indicated by physical and mental component scores, was associated with participants reporting a lower quality of life.

Research Summary

The study investigated the interrelationships among multimorbidity, health care utilization (HCU), health status, and quality of life (QoL) in community-dwelling individuals with traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI). The results indicated that multimorbidity and HCU are interrelated and significantly associated with lower health status, which in turn negatively impacts the quality of life reported by individuals with SCI. The study suggests the need for a screening tool to identify individuals with SCI at risk of inappropriate HCU, which could lead to better patient outcomes and cost savings.

Practical Implications

Development of Screening Tools

The study highlights the need to develop a screening tool to identify persons with SCI at risk of inappropriate health care utilization. This tool could help healthcare providers proactively address the needs of these individuals.

Targeted Interventions

The findings suggest that targeted interventions are needed to address the complex health needs of individuals with SCI, particularly those with multiple secondary health conditions. These interventions may include interdisciplinary team care and self-management programs.

Improved Community Care

The results emphasize the importance of improving community care for persons with SCI to optimize health status, reduce health care costs, and ultimately improve quality of life. This may involve addressing system fragmentation and disparities in accessing services.

Study Limitations

1
The study relied on self-reported data, which may be subject to recall bias or inaccuracy.
2
The sample may not be fully representative of the SCI population in Canada due to demographic characteristics.
3
The study lacked detailed information on the reasons for hospitalizations, which could provide further insights into health care utilization patterns.

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