Factors Associated with Neuropathic Pain and Quality of Life in Spinal Cord Injury Patients

Monday, July 11, 2011: 10:15 AM

Shiow-Luan Tsay, PhD
College of Nursing, National Taipei University of Nursing & Health Sciences, Taipei, Taiwan

Learning Objective 1: The learner will be able to learn the care issue of the neuropathic pain in spinal cord injury patients.

Learning Objective 2: The learner will be able to analyzing factors associate with neuropathic pain and quality of life in spinal cord injury patients.

The aim of the study was to investigate the predictor for neuropathic pain and quality of life in patients with spinal cord injury (SCI). One hundred and three SCI patients participated in the study. A comprehensive set of questionnaires was used, including the Chronic Pain Self Efficacy Scale (CPSS), Neuropathic Pain Questionnaire (NPQ), SCI Life Style (SCILS), Hospital Anxiety Depression Scale (HADS), SF-12 health status questionnaire (SF-12), and Multidimensional Assessment of Fatigue (MAF).  Canonical Correlation Analysis (CCA) was applied to analyze a set of predictors and multiple outcomes. There have two statistically significant correlation was found in canonical correlation coefficients. The first canonical correlation indicated self-efficacy, severity of injury; ASIA score, age, and temperature were the important predictors for PCS and depression. The second canonical correlation indicated temperature, severity of injury, and complication were the important predictors for MCS, neuropathic pain, fatigue, and self care ability. The findings suggest that SCI patient’s neuropathic pain and QOL is predicted by SCI patient’s self-efficacy, environment, and patient’s severity of injury. The findings provide a base for future research.