Health provider-identified barriers and facilitators to weight management for individuals with spinal cord injury

Spinal Cord, 2021 · DOI: 10.1038/s41393-021-00614-8 · Published: October 1, 2021

Spinal Cord Injury Healthcare Nutrition & Dietetics

Simple Explanation

This study explores what healthcare providers think are the challenges and supports for weight management in people with spinal cord injuries. The research team interviewed 25 healthcare providers who work with individuals with SCI from Veterans Health Administration and Midwest Regional SCI Care Systems. The interviews focused on identifying obstacles (barriers) and helpful factors (facilitators) related to weight management.

Study Duration

Not specified

Participants

25 health care providers

Evidence Level

Qualitative descriptive study

Key Findings

1
Healthcare providers identified numerous individual-level barriers such as physical limitations, lack of interest, and psychological factors.
2
Socio-environmental barriers included challenges with family support, lack of access to resources, and financial limitations.
3
Facilitators included motivation, education, exercise, positive support networks, access to healthy food, and participation in weight management programs.

Research Summary

This study explored barriers and facilitators to weight management among individuals with SCI from the perspectives of SCI healthcare providers. Providers identified individual-level, socio-environmental, and organizational barriers, including physical limitations, lack of family support, and lack of interest in wellness. Facilitators included positive support networks, motivation, and knowledge on weight management, which healthcare providers found helpful for individuals with SCI.

Practical Implications

Targeted Programs

Future weight management programs should address common barriers identified by healthcare providers, individuals with SCI, and their caregivers.

Promote Facilitators

Develop strategies to promote facilitators such as motivation, education, and access to resources to enhance weight management.

Enhance Social Support

More research is needed to identify ways to enhance social support or improve healthy family dynamics for those with SCI.

Study Limitations

1
The healthcare providers only represent a small proportion of healthcare professions that provide care for individuals with SCI, which limits generalizability.
2
The SCI patient population that these healthcare provider participants care for may differ from the SCI population, including differences in age, income, insurance, and access to weight management resources, also limiting generalizability
3
Future studies should examine weight management efforts from the individual with SCI’s perspective, as well as from the caregivers.

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