This study aims to evaluate relationships between self-reported fine motor ability and quality of life (assessed by life satisfaction and life problems) from people with spinal cord injury (SCI) at T1 and above.

Observational cohort study (current analysis from a cross section)

279 individuals with SCI at T1 or above

Community members sampled from records from two Midwestern hospitals and a speciality hospital in the Southeast United States

Fine motor ability was assessed via the Spinal Cord Injury Functional Index-Short Form 9A, while two facets of quality of life, life satisfaction and life problems, were assessed by the Life Situation Questionnaire-Revised version (LSQ-R). Pearson correlations and multivariate analysis were utilised to identify cross-sectional relationships between fine motor ability, life satisfaction and life problems.

Fine motor ability was positively correlated with total life satisfaction score (r=0.16; p=0.02) and was negatively correlated with the total life problems score (r=–0.18; p=0.01), health problems factor (r=–0.24; pβ=0.25; p=0.02), fewer life problems (β=–0.40; pβ=–0.11; pβ=–0.10; p

The results identified significant, modest associations between self-reported outcomes, as better fine motor ability was related to less social isolation, fewer health problems and higher life satisfaction. Further investigation into the relationship between fine motor ability, life satisfaction and life problems is warranted.

Multimorbidity is prevalent and associated with complex treatment requirements. In order to assist general practitioners (GPs) addressing these requirements, the web application gp-multitool.de has been designed, which facilitates implementation of the German clinical practice guideline for multimorbidity. We will conduct a cluster-randomised clinical trial evaluating an intervention based on this tool. This protocol summarises methods and discusses ethics and dissemination of this study.

Participating patients are recruited by cooperating GP practices. Inclusion criteria are an age of 65 years or older, enrolment in any disease management programme and multimorbidity operationalised by two additional chronic conditions. To avoid postrandomisation selection bias, practices are randomised as clusters after baseline assessment of all participating patients from the respective practice. In our intervention, patients receive access to different assessments including patient preferences by email, fill out the electronic assessment forms on any device with access to the internet, receive a medication review and discuss the assessment results with their GPs. GPs in the control group do not have access to the digital tool and provide care as usual. The primary outcome is staying at least once for at least one night in hospital during the 12-month observation period. Secondary outcomes are contacts with GPs and outpatient specialists, self-reported health, health-related quality of life, patient satisfaction and GP-reported and patient-reported quality of care. A sample size of 660 patients from 66 GP practices is needed. Data are analysed by mixed effects regression models.

Ethics approval was obtained by the ethics committee of the Medical Association of Hamburg (2022–1 00 786-BO-ff). Study results will be presented on scientific conferences and published in journal articles. In addition, healthcare professionals, patient representatives and the interested public will be informed about study results at a symposium.

The study was registered in clinicaltrials.gov (NCT06831994).