Abstract
Study design: A cross-sectional and comparative investigation using the unified questionnaire.
Objectives: To investigate the cultural (East Asian versus North European) differences in life satisfaction between long-term survivors of spinal cord injuries (SCI).
Setting: Uppsala county in Sweden and Fukuoka prefecture in Japan.
Methods: A questionnaire dealing with life satisfaction was prepared by the authors. It focused mainly on sexual life and accompanied a self-rating Barthel Index Score. The questionnaire was mailed to male SCI persons in the two communities, Uppsala county (Sweden) and Fukuoka prefecture (Japan). Forty (77%) Swedish and 85 (71%) Japanese SCI replied.
Results: (1) Swedish SCI appeared to be more satisfied than Japanese SCI in general health, economy, social activity, social service, family life and sexual life. (2) Several life domains indicated significant difference in life satisfaction between with- and without-partner group in Japanese SCI. No life domains indicated significant difference in Swedish SCI. (3) No statistically significant difference was indicated in all of life domains between the degree of life satisfaction and interval since spinal cord damage.
Conclusion: The more expanded cross-cultural study is expected to be helpful for discussing the QOL of SCI.
Spinal Cord (2001) 39, 387–393.
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References
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Appendix
Appendix
*Do not note your name.
1 Gender male/female
2 Age __ years
3 Family member
-
1
single, no partner
-
2
with spouse/partner
-
3
others
4 Gross level of lesion
-
1
complete quadriplegia
-
2
incomplete quadriplegia
-
3
complete paraplegia
-
4
incomplete paraplegia
5 Interval since spinal cord damage __ years
6 Are you satisfied with your general health?
-
1
satisfied
-
2
rather satisfied
-
3
no opinion
-
4
tather dissatisfied
-
5
dissatisfied
7 Do you work? yes/no
8 Are you satisfied with your working life?
-
1
satisfied
-
2
rather satisfied
-
3
no opinion
-
4
rather dissatisfied
-
5
dissatisfied
9 Are you satisfied with your financial situation?
-
1
satisfied
-
2
rather satisfied
-
3
no opinion
-
4
rather dissatisfied
-
5
dissatisfied
10 Are you satisfied with your social activity?
-
1
satisfied
-
2
rather satisfied
-
3
no opinion
-
4
rather dissatisfied
-
5
dissatisfied
11 Are you satisfied with your culture/spiritual life including education, reading or religion?
-
1
satisfied
-
2
rather satisfied
-
3
no opinion
-
4
rather dissatisfied
-
5
dissatisfied
12 Are you satisfied with leisure life including sports, travel or hobbies?
-
1
satisfied
-
2
rather satisfied
-
3
no opinion
-
4
rather dissatisfied
-
5
dissatisfied
13 Are you satisfied with social services?
-
1
satisfied
-
2
rather satisfied
-
3
no opinion
-
4
rather dissatisfied
-
5
dissatisfied
If you graded 4 or 5, what is the reason?
-
1
lack of financial support including pensions
-
2
poor environment including public transportation or architects
-
3
hard to get a job
-
4
others
14 Are you satisfied with your family situation?
-
1
satisfied
-
2
rather satisfied
-
3
no opinion
-
4
rather dissatisfied
-
5
dissatisfied
15 Do you have any experience of talking about sexual life?
-
1
yes…with whom
-
1-1 spouse/partner
-
1-2 friends
-
1-3 hospital staff
-
1-4 others
-
-
2
no.…because
-
2-1 immoral
-
2-2 personal issue
-
2-3 shameful
-
2-4 no settlement
-
2-5 others
-
16 What are your sexual activities?
-
1
no sexual activity
-
2
coitus
-
3
sexual caressing
-
4
kissing
-
5
masturbation
-
6
erotic magazine/film/video
-
7
non-physical sexual activity (interpersonal)
-
8
others
17 Are you satisfied with your sexual life?
-
1
satisfied
-
2
rather satisfied
-
3
no opinion
-
4
rather dissatisfied
-
5
dissatisfied
If you graded 4 or 5, the reason is,
-
1
no partner
-
2
poor physical function
-
3
no feeling of orgasms
-
4
too small housing
-
5
no way of having a child
-
6
others
18 What do you hope for medical staff regarding the sexual life of spinal cord injury?
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1
providing up to date nformation
-
2
providing counseling settings
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3
development of medicines/apparatus
-
4
not to refer
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5
no opinion
-
6
others
19 What do you value in your life domains (check three items)?
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1
family
-
2
culture/spiritual life (religion, education…)
-
3
general health
-
4
social activity
-
5
hobby/leisure
-
6
economy
-
7
work
-
8
sexual life
-
9
social service
-
10
others
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Ide, M., Fugl-Meyer, A. Life satisfaction in persons with spinal cord injury: a comparative investigation between Sweden and Japan. Spinal Cord 39, 387–393 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.sc.3101171
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.sc.3101171
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