Post-Traumatic Growth Following Spinal Cord Injury: A Qualitative Study

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to better understand the factors that facilitate post-traumatic growth following spinal cord injury, as well as to connect these findings to potential clinical implications for occupational therapy practitioners.

DESIGN: The researchers applied a grounded theory approach within this study in which semi-structured interviews were utilized to collect data from 11 participants who had experienced a spinal cord injury. Recruitment of participants began with initial messages and emails to known SCI community members, who identified as individuals who meet the inclusion criteria and were willing to participate in the study. Once identified, each participant was provided with a consent form that was approved by the Institutional Review Board (IRB), which outlined the specific purpose and expectations for the research study. Participation in the study was voluntary and there were no payments or reimbursement. Interviews were scheduled with the participants via email and later carried out via telephone. The participants completed a semi-structured interview and the data was analyzed simultaneously as it is being collected. Recruitment of participants continued until data saturation was reached at 11 interviews.

METHODS: A qualitative methodology was utilized in which audio recorded, semi-structured interviews were utilized to collect data from 11 participants. Each interview was conducted via telephone and lasted approximately 30 minutes. Audio recordings from each of the interviews were transcribed verbatim and carefully reviewed to ensure accuracy. The data was examined line-by-line in order to extract meaning units. The process of assigning codes to each meaning unit was completed by one researcher and then independently completed by another researcher separate from the transcription process. The researchers met frequently to ensure constant comparison of the codes. The process of interviews, transcription, extracting meaning units, and coding was repeated until a theoretical saturation point was reached. Finally, a secondary level of analysis was employed in order to identify overall themes from the data. The researchers met to discuss these themes and to reach a final consensus on the study findings.

RESULTS: Four major themes emerged from the data reflecting the process of post-traumatic growth following spinal cord injury: (a) engagement and independence in meaningful activities; (b) personal narrative reconstruction; (c) perspective change and appreciation for life; (d) finding and incorporating a positive support network.

CONCLUSION: The results of this study not only direct one’s attention towards the influences on post-traumatic growth, but also creates room to consider the potential clinical implications for occupational therapy practitioners. To date, studies examining post-traumatic growth following spinal cord injury has not discussed its clinical implications for occupational therapy practice. Examining these results through of the unique lens of occupational therapy adds another layer of meaning to the data. Essentially, all of the themes identified within the study results have the potential to be woven into the daily interventions of occupational therapists within the clinical environment and therefore influence the positive psychological change trajectory of the individuals that they serve. This study sheds a positive light on the potential to expand the understanding of theories on post-traumatic growth following SCI, as well as the prospective role of an occupational therapist to facilitate this positive psychological change.

References

Tedeschi, R. G., & Calhoun, L. G. (2004). " Posttraumatic growth: Conceptual foundations and empirical evidence". Psychological inquiry, 15(1), 1-18.

Chun, S., & Lee, Y. (2008). The experience of posttraumatic growth for people with spinal cord injury. Qualitative Health Research, 18(7), 877-890.