ASSOCIATION OF SLEEP QUALITY AND PSYCHOLOGICAL DISTRESS WITH FUNCTIONAL ABILITY IN PATIENTS WITH CHRONIC SPINAL CORD INJURY: A CROSS SECTIONAL STUDY AT PARAPLEGIC CENTRE, PESHAWAR

Abstract

Objectives: Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a severe disorder that causes severe physical, psychological, and socioeconomic disabilities. The spinal cord is the primary channel of communication between the brain and the body and injuries to this portion interfere with the motor, sensory, and reflex activities. Over 200,000 individuals (primarily young males) are affected by spinal cord injury (SCI), with increasing survival rates at the cost of substantial lifelong disability and economic burden. This highlights the fact that there is a dire need of effective treatments. Methodology: A cross-sectional study that was descriptive was carried out in the Paraplegic Center Peshawar within a period of six months. Cumulative sampling was applied to recruit eighty-three patients with chronic incomplete spinal cord injury. The data were gathered via interviews with the help of standardized measures: Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (DASS-21), and Modified Barthel Index. The statistical analysis was done on SPSS version 26 and the relative tests that were applied to measure associations were non-parametric tests. Results: In 83 participants, it was found that poor sleep quality and greater psychological distress had significant association with less functional ability (p < .001) with moderate to large effect sizes, which suggests a significant effect on functional independence. Conclusion: The quality of sleep and psychological distress relates much with functional ability among chronic persons of spinal cord injury. Functional independence and the suggested quality of life can be enhanced by tackling sleep issues and mental distress.