Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #113824

Michael McCarthy, MSW¹, Gloria L. Krahn, PhD, MPH¹, Dean Westwood, MSW², and Laura A. Hammond, MPH³. (1) Oregon Health & Science University, PO Box 574, Portland, OR 97201-0574, 503-418-1768, mccartmi@ohsu.edu, (2) Oregon Institute on Disability & Development, Oregon Health & Science University, PO Box 574, Child Development and Rehabilitation Center, Portland, OR 97207-0574, (3) Rehabilitation Research & Training Center on Health & Wellness, Oregon Health & Science University, P.O. Box 574, Portland, OR 97207

There are many demographic, general and disability-related health maintenance, and contextual factors that appear to be associated with the presence of secondary conditions among persons with disabilities. The relative influence of these factors, however, requires clearer understanding if appropriate health prevention and promotion strategies are to be identified. The purpose of this study is to investigate the relationship of key disability-related health maintenance practices of people with SCI and contextual factors to the presence of secondary conditions. Researchers at Oregon Health and Science University's Center on Self-Determination developed a 100-question survey consisting of four sections, 1) demographics (e.g. date of birth, age at which injury occurred, gender, marital status), 2) general health behaviors (e.g. smoking, alcohol consumption, nutrition, weight management, exercise), 3) contextual situations that may be experienced by persons with SCI (e.g. utilization of healthcare and other services, psychosocial stressors), and 4) a list of eighteen potential secondary conditions persons with SCI may experience (e.g. elevated blood pressure, diabetes, fatigue). A cross sectional sample was arrived at through applying ICD – 9 billing codes to the customer databases of national durable medical equipment companies. Preliminary correlation analyses of 50 of the anticipated 200 responses were conducted between demographic factors, lifestyle factors, contextual factors, and scores related to the number and severity of secondary health conditions experienced. Statistically significant correlations were observed primarily between age, frequency of healthcare services (primary care, specialist care, emergency care) utilization, and summary scores of secondary conditions.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, the participant in this session will be able to

• Recognize the importance of identifying contextual factors for the development of prevention and health promotion programs.
• Describe the correlations between demographic, lifestyle, and contextual factors and the incidence of secondary conditions.
• Discuss the impact of these correlations on future health promotion and prevention research and programming.

Keywords: Disability, Survey

Related Web page: www.healthwellness.org

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.

Recorded presentation