Perception about life challenges in patients with spinal cord injury

Abstract

Background: Spinal cord injury (SCI) is one of the most serious types of physical trauma and has become a major life-threatening condition in the recent decade. It is essential that the life perception and experiences of patients with SCI be studied and evaluated in different cultural contexts so that their needs and the challenges they face can be properly determined. Aim: The present study aims to explore the how patients with SCI perceive facing life’s challenges. Objectives: To explore the opinion of the person with SCI about their facing psychological, social, physical and environmental challenges and to know how the spinal cord injury patients overcome their life challenges. Methods: The present study is qualitative research with a descriptive phenomenological design. Participants were identified through purposive sampling of patients with spinal cord injury at Community Based Rehabilitation (CBR) Department at CRP. The researchers collected data using semi-structured, in-depth interviews with 15 SCI patients conducted between May and June, 2023. Data was analyzed according to Qualitative Content Analysis (QCA). Results: Analysis of the data led to the emergence of five themes. The five main themes were impairment in physical function (mobility impairment, pain, pressure sore, bowel and bladder incontinence, poor self-care, failure in marital relationship), emotional shock (crisis making and mental rumination, persistent depressive disorder, pitying behaviors, fear of the future, experience of stigma), lack of social acceptance (loss of job and educational status, financial problem, unable to attend social gathering, criticism, dependency crisis, discrimination), environmental obstacle (lack of barrier free environment, transportation problem) and strategies to overcome (regaining self- confidence, employment, self-care, career training/ education, need regular follow up, need specialized training, need to improve rehabilitation management). Conclusion: Patients with spinal cord injuries faced various issues in their care and social lives. Accordingly, healthcare administrators and caregivers are recommended to provide more comprehensive health support to SCI patients to meet their needs more effectively. Keywords: Patient, Spinal cord injuries, Life’s challenges, Qualitative study. Abstract