Date Presented 04/04/2025
We examined the telehealth Spinal Cord Injury Self-Management (SCISM) Program and estimated effect (n = 32). The SCISM Program was feasible and acceptable, and it had positive moderate effects on secondary health conditions and large effects on goal attainment.
Primary Author and Speaker: Bridget Kraus
PURPOSE: People with chronic spinal cord injury (SCI) experience a higher rate of secondary health conditions (SHCs) which impact their health and wellbeing. Self-management (SM) is a proven intervention approach, but formal programs may need to be tailored for the SCI population to reflect their needs and values.
DESIGN: This single-group quantitative pilot study assessed the feasibility and acceptability of the Spinal Cord Injury Self-Management (SCISM) Program with the SCI population and estimated the preliminary effect of the intervention.
METHOD: 32 participants with SCI were enrolled in this study. The primary outcomes were feasibility, acceptability, secondary health conditions, and goal attainment. Participants were assessed at baseline, post-intervention, and 3-month follow-up.
RESULTS: Findings indicated that the SCISM Program was feasible and acceptable for use with moderate positive effects on SHCs and large positive effects on goal attainment.
CONCLUSION: People with chronic SCI want to continue improving SM skills, but interventions should reflect the population’s specific values and needs. The SCISM Program is a telehealth program tailored for SCI and is feasible, acceptable, and should be examined further to reduce SHCs following SCI.
IMPACT STATEMENT: The need for SM education and behavior acquisition persists throughout the chronic stages of SCI, highlighting the need for continued services at the community level to reduce the impact of SHCs. It is feasible and acceptable to employ the SCISM Program that incorporates both a virtual group and individual component to address SM. Facilitating continued SM behaviors by recommending programs tailored to the SCI population that meet their needs and match their experiences, is necessary to reduce the harmful effects of SHCs on this population that negatively impact their participation, health, and overall quality of life.
References
Kraus, B., & Wolf, T. J. (2023). Needs Assessment of Self-Management for Individuals With Chronic Spinal Cord Injury/Disease. OTJR: Occupational Therapy Journal of Research, 15394492231183627.
Grady, P. A., & Gough, L. L. (2014). Self-management: a comprehensive approach to management of chronic conditions. American journal of public health, 104(8), e25–e31.
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