Quality of life in persons with long-term mechanical ventilation or tetraplegic SCI without LTMV

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to explore quality of life (QoL) and experiences with caregiving among persons on long-term mechanical ventilation (LTMV) by comparing their status to a group of patients with tetraplegic spinal cord injury (SCI) not using LTMV. Participants, who were ages 26 to 77 years (mean = 36.5, SD = 14.3) and 67% male, made up a group of 21 individuals on LTMV including 10 with LTMV subsequent to SCI and 11 with LTMV from other etiologies and a comparison group of 22 individuals who were a minimum of 1 year post-SCI and had tetraplegia without preserved motor function below the site of impairment (ASIA classifications A or B). QoL was conceptualized in three distinct ways for this study, providing a comprehensive assessment: health-related QoL (HR-QoL), global cognitive appraisal, and individualized/judgmental. Croup differences in QoL and amount and assessed quality of caregiving were examined. No significant group differences were observed in QoL from any vantage point. Differences in caregiving were found, and caregiving was associated with cognitively appraised QoL. © 2005 Thomas Land Publishers, Inc.