Navigating the Pandemic: Exploring Perspectives of Individuals with Spinal Cord Injury on COVID-19 Resources

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Published Oct 24, 2024
DOI: https://doi.org/10.18103/mra.v12i10.5973

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Main Article Content

Pegah Derakhshan
Graduate Program in Rehabilitation Sciences, UBC, Vancouver, BC, CA; Rehabilitation Research Program, Centre for Aging SMART, Vancouver Coastal Health, Vancouver, BC, CA; International Collaboration on Repair Discoveries (ICORD), Vancouver, BC, CA; Department of Occupational Science & Therapy, UBC, Vancouver, BC, CA
William C. Miller
Rehabilitation Research Program, Centre for Aging SMART, Vancouver Coastal Health, Vancouver, BC, CA; International Collaboration on Repair Discoveries (ICORD), Vancouver, BC, CA; Department of Occupational Science & Therapy, UBC, Vancouver, BC, CA
Ethan Simpson
Rehabilitation Research Program, Centre for Aging SMART, Vancouver Coastal Health, Vancouver, BC, CA; International Collaboration on Repair Discoveries (ICORD), Vancouver, BC, CA; Department of Occupational Science & Therapy, UBC, Vancouver, BC, CA
Tyrone Scales
Graduate Program in Rehabilitation Sciences, UBC, Vancouver, BC, CA; Rehabilitation Research Program, Centre for Aging SMART, Vancouver Coastal Health, Vancouver, BC, CA; Department of Occupational Science & Therapy, UBC, Vancouver, BC, CA
Farrukh A. Chishtie
Graduate Program in Rehabilitation Sciences, UBC, Vancouver, BC, CA; Rehabilitation Research Program, Centre for Aging SMART, Vancouver Coastal Health, Vancouver, BC, CA; Department of Occupational Science & Therapy, UBC, Vancouver, BC, CA
Christopher B. McBride
Spinal Cord Injury British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, CA
Jaimie Borisoff
International Collaboration on Repair Discoveries (ICORD), Vancouver, BC, CA; Department of Occupational Science & Therapy, UBC, Vancouver, BC, CA; British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT), Burnaby, CA
Julia Schmidt
Rehabilitation Research Program, Centre for Aging SMART, Vancouver Coastal Health, Vancouver, BC, CA; Department of Occupational Science & Therapy, UBC, Vancouver, BC, CA
W. Ben Mortenson
Rehabilitation Research Program, Centre for Aging SMART, Vancouver Coastal Health, Vancouver, BC, CA; International Collaboration on Repair Discoveries (ICORD), Vancouver, BC, CA; Department of Occupational Science & Therapy, UBC, Vancouver, BC, CA

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic severely impacted vulnerable populations, such as individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI). Concerns within this group have escalated regarding access to essential services, including caregiver support, equipment maintenance, and medical care during the pandemic. In response, multiple COVID-19 online resources tailored for individuals with SCI were developed and provided. This study aimed to investigate the perspectives of individuals with SCI (n=12) on available COVID-19 online resources and to examine the perceived usability, clarity, and applicability of the resources. In this qualitative description study, we used an online survey and semi-structured interviews to collect data. Survey results indicated that 70% of participants found the resources useful, 65% found them easy to navigate, and 60% were likely to use the information provided, with specific feedback revealing generally positive responses for prevention infographics and text-based mental health resources, mixed feedback for mental health and physical activity videos, and varied responses for caregiver resources. Based on the data from qualitative interviews, three main themes emerged, namely “Quality of information”, “Presentation” and “Delivery of Resources”. Findings highlight the need for more specific, realistic, and actionable information tailored to the SCI community, emphasizing the importance of detailed, visually appealing, and regularly updated resources to effectively support individuals with SCI during health crises.

Article Details

How to Cite
DERAKHSHAN, Pegah et al. Navigating the Pandemic: Exploring Perspectives of Individuals with Spinal Cord Injury on COVID-19 Resources. Medical Research Archives, [S.l.], v. 12, n. 10, oct. 2024. ISSN 2375-1924. Available at: <https://esmed.org/MRA/mra/article/view/5973>. Date accessed: 15 nov. 2024. doi: https://doi.org/10.18103/mra.v12i10.5973.
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Issue
Vol 12 No 10 (2024): October Issue, Issue 10, VOl.12
Section
Research Articles

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