Daniel M Cushman1, Katrina Thomas2, Debjani Mukherjee1, Reid Johnson3, Gayle Spill1. 1. Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago/Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL. 2. Minneapolis Veterans Affairs Health Care System, Minneapolis, MN. 3. Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To explore the attitudes of health care providers who treat patients with spinal cord injury (SCI) and examine whether Emergency Medicine (EM) and Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PM&R) physicians differ in their judgments about quality of life (QOL) after SCI. DESIGN: Questionnaire survey of PM&R and EM physicians. PARTICIPANTS: Board-certified PM&R and EM physicians listed in the American Academy of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation and the American College of Emergency Physicians and/or faculty from academic PM&R and EM departments in the United States and Canada. MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS: Evaluating various aspects of perceived QOL if the physician hypothetically sustained an SCI, including impact on leisure activities, social relationships, happiness, meaningful work, satisfying sexual relationships, and overall QOL. RESULTS: A total of 91 EM physicians and 89 PM&R physicians completed the surveys. PM&R physicians were more likely to agree that they would have a better QOL compared with EM physicians, regardless of the level of injury or aspect of life (P < .01 in all cases). Female physicians, regardless of specialty, were more likely to choose a lower level at which they would choose to die, rather than live, if they sustained an SCI (P = .03). Physicians in both groups were more likely to disagree that they would have a high QOL at a lower level of injury if they disagreed at a higher level of injury (P ≤ .02). CONCLUSIONS: Regardless of specialty, PM&R and EM physicians have their own personal perceptions of QOL with SCI. PM&R physicians tend to believe that they would have a higher QOL with an SCI compared with EM physicians and likely have a more optimistic view of SCI. Patient care may be improved by interdisciplinary discussion, as evidenced by the disparity exhibited by practitioners in these 2 specialties who care for the same patient population.
OBJECTIVE: To explore the attitudes of health care providers who treat patients with spinal cord injury (SCI) and examine whether Emergency Medicine (EM) and Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PM&R) physicians differ in their judgments about quality of life (QOL) after SCI. DESIGN: Questionnaire survey of PM&R and EM physicians. PARTICIPANTS: Board-certified PM&R and EM physicians listed in the American Academy of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation and the American College of Emergency Physicians and/or faculty from academic PM&R and EM departments in the United States and Canada. MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS: Evaluating various aspects of perceived QOL if the physician hypothetically sustained an SCI, including impact on leisure activities, social relationships, happiness, meaningful work, satisfying sexual relationships, and overall QOL. RESULTS: A total of 91 EM physicians and 89 PM&R physicians completed the surveys. PM&R physicians were more likely to agree that they would have a better QOL compared with EM physicians, regardless of the level of injury or aspect of life (P < .01 in all cases). Female physicians, regardless of specialty, were more likely to choose a lower level at which they would choose to die, rather than live, if they sustained an SCI (P = .03). Physicians in both groups were more likely to disagree that they would have a high QOL at a lower level of injury if they disagreed at a higher level of injury (P ≤ .02). CONCLUSIONS: Regardless of specialty, PM&R and EM physicians have their own personal perceptions of QOL with SCI. PM&R physicians tend to believe that they would have a higher QOL with an SCI compared with EM physicians and likely have a more optimistic view of SCI. Patient care may be improved by interdisciplinary discussion, as evidenced by the disparity exhibited by practitioners in these 2 specialties who care for the same patient population.
Authors: Maya Sabatello; Teresa Blankmeyer Burke; Katherine E McDonald; Paul S Appelbaum Journal: Am J Public Health Date: 2020-08-20 Impact factor: 9.308
Authors: Jong Soo Lee; Sang Woon Kim; Sang Hyun Jee; Joon Chul Kim; Jong Bo Choi; Sung Yong Cho; Jang Hwan Kim Journal: Int Neurourol J Date: 2016-12-26 Impact factor: 2.835