Life satisfaction and well-being measures in ventilator assisted individuals with traumatic tetraplegia

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Study evaluating life satisfaction and well being in 87 individuals with traumatic tetraplegia two years or more postinjury. Forty two ventilator assisted individuals with tetraplegia (VAITs) and 45 autonomously breathing individuals with tetraplegia (ABITs) completed standard psychosocial instruments. Major findings include the following: 1) the VAITs' life satisfaction and other well being and quality of life indicators were generally positive; 2) the VAITs were significantly more satisfied with their housing, family life, and jobs than were the ABITs; 3) 23.8% of the VAITs expressed general dissatisfaction with their lives compared with 35.6% of the ABITs; 4) life satisfaction and quality of life of the VAITs was significantly underestimated by a control group of health care professionals; 5) the control group and the ABITs significantly overestimated the distress which the VAITs associated with ventilator use as compared with loss of upper extremity function; and 6) life satisfaction and well being correlated best with family and social interaction.

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