Patients with traumatic spinal cord injuries and their satisfaction with their general practitioner

Objective: The objective of this study was to examine how satisfied patients with traumatic spinal cord injury (TSCI) are with their general practitioners (GP). Materials and methods: The study included patients with TSCI, injured in the period 1982-2001 and living in western Norway. We performed a structured telephonic interview of the patients in the period 2004-2007. A total of 105 (59.3%) patients participated. Results: Patients with TSCI were in general satisfied with their GP. Older patients were most satisfied, and patients with incomplete thoracic SCI were least satisfied. Patients with anxiety and/or depression reported low satisfaction with their GP on several parameters. Conclusions: Patients with incomplete SCI were least satisfied probably because their physicians do not acknowledge their complicated medical complaints and do not meet the patient's expectations. Patients with anxiety and/or depression were more likely to report low satisfaction with their GP. Spinal Cord (2012) 50, 527-532; doi: 10.1038/sc.2011.187; published online 17 January 2012