Article

The purpose was to explore the experiences and needs of persons with
spinal cord injury (SCI) who can walk. METHOD: Thematic analysis was undertaken
on the transcripts of semistructured interviews with 12 individuals who could
walk following SCI. RESULTS: Experiences shared across the group were related to
walking in hospital and community settings, fatigue, frustration and invisible
impairments. A need was identified for psychological support whilst in hospital
and beyond. Professional and peer support following discharge from hospital were
needed to assist with adjusting to their injury. Differences were noted between
the experiences and needs of persons who had sustained their injury through a
traumatic cause and persons who had sustained their injury through nontraumatic
cause and the rehabilitation environment in which participants were hospitalized.
CONCLUSION: The lived experiences of the general cohort in this small-scale study
suggest that innovative strategies/programs be developed to address the needs of walkers within inpatient settings and following their discharge into the
community. Programs should include self-help mental health strategies. Programs
are required to better inform health professionals of the needs of this subset of
the spinal cord injured population. Attention should be drawn particularly
towards the needs of persons who had sustained their injury through nontraumatic
cause.

Langue : ANGLAIS