Spiritual Attitude and Involvement of People with Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) Living in the Community: A Cross-sectional Study

Abstract

Background: Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a traumatic life event for any individual. Therefore, people with SCI lose hope, meaning, and purpose in their lives. Through spiritual belief and activity, people with SCI can find peace and cope with their illness. Spirituality helps an individual find meaning, hope, connectedness, and purpose in life. Aim: The study aimed to identify the spiritual attitude and involvement of people with SCI living in the community. Method: The study followed a cross-sectional quantitative design conducting a face-to-face survey among 101 participants who took rehabilitation services from the Centre for the Rehabilitation of the Paralysed (CRP). A sociodemographic questionnaire and spiritual attitude and Involvement list (SAIL) scale were used to conduct the survey. Convenience sampling was used. Descriptive analysis was used by SPSS 20 to analyze the data. Results: 75 males and 26 females with a median age of 38.00 (IQR 27.50 - 48.00) years, responded to the survey. Among 101 participants, 2% had a lower level, 37.6 % had a moderate level and, 60.4 % had a higher level of spiritual attitude and involvement. In this study, seven aspects of spirituality—meaningfulness, trust, acceptance, caring for others, connectedness with nature, transcending experience, and spiritual activities were measured. There was no association found between the level of spiritual attitude and involvement and sociodemographic characteristics. Conclusion: Healthcare professionals should incorporate spirituality into their rehabilitation program by assessing spiritual distress and strength through evaluation procedures, planning treatment approaches, and therefore organizing a spiritual care training program before returning to the community after taking rehabilitation services. Because of the disability and environmental barrier, people with SCI could not participate in spiritual activities. It is therefore important for community members, social workers, and family members to consider and take the required actions to engage in spiritual activities for individuals with SCI after their return to the community Keywords: Spirituality, meaning, peace, connectedness, Spinal cord injury, community.