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‘I forget to do pressure relief’: Personal factors influencing the prevention of secondary health conditions in people with spinal cord injury, South Africa

South African Journal of Physiotherapy, 2021 · DOI: 10.4102/sajp.v77i1.1493 · Published: March 15, 2021

Spinal Cord InjuryParticipationRehabilitation

Simple Explanation

This study explores the personal factors that influence how people with spinal cord injuries (SCI) prevent secondary health conditions (SHCs), such as pressure sores and urinary tract infections. The research involved interviewing 17 individuals with SCI to understand what makes it easier or harder for them to prevent these secondary health issues. The findings highlight the importance of socio-economic status, mental well-being, knowledge, behavior, and access to assistive devices in preventing SHCs among people with SCI.

Study Duration
July 2018 to October 2019
Participants
Seventeen individuals with SCI
Evidence Level
Not specified

Key Findings

  • 1
    Socio-economic status influences access to healthy food, medication, healthcare services, and assistive devices, impacting the ability to prevent SHCs.
  • 2
    Mental well-being, including forgetfulness, beliefs, feelings, and attitudes towards prevention, affects adherence to preventative care practices.
  • 3
    Patient activation through self-management, problem-solving, resilience, self-awareness, and help-seeking behavior plays a crucial role in preventing and managing SHCs.

Research Summary

This study explored personal factors influencing the prevention of secondary health conditions (SHCs) in people with spinal cord injury (SCI). Six personal factors were identified: socio-economic status, mental well-being, knowledge of SHCs and prevention, behaviour patterns, patient activation and owning an appropriate assistive device. The study concludes that these factors should be considered when developing prevention strategies for people with SCI to enhance patient-oriented care.

Practical Implications

Tailored Prevention Strategies

Develop tailored prevention strategies that consider individual factors influencing the prevention of secondary health conditions.

Holistic Patient Assessment

Health professionals should assess patients' beliefs, attitudes, and feelings towards SCI during therapy to ensure holistic patient care.

Promote Patient Engagement

Encourage patient engagement in personal health through the adoption of health-promoting behavior as part of the rehabilitation process.

Study Limitations

  • 1
    Findings cannot be generalized to the whole SCI population due to the qualitative methodology and single rehabilitation facility setting.
  • 2
    The study did not rank personal factors based on their level of importance.
  • 3
    The impact of genetics and factors at a molecular level were beyond the scope of this study.

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