Towards personalized care for persons with spinal cord injury: a study on patients’ perceptions

The Journal of Spinal Cord Medicine, 2011 · DOI: 10.1179/107902610x12883422813741 · Published: January 1, 2011

Spinal Cord Injury Patient Experience Rehabilitation

Simple Explanation

This study explores how patients with spinal cord injuries (SCI) perceive the care they receive in a specialized unit. It aims to gather insights that can help improve and personalize the care pathway for these patients, both in the hospital and during rehabilitation. Researchers conducted in-depth interviews with 21 SCI patients, analyzing the data to identify key themes and categories related to their experiences and expectations within the Spinal Cord Unit (SCU). The study emphasizes the importance of incorporating patients' perspectives into the design of care models to enhance professionals' understanding of patients' needs and facilitate the creation of personalized care plans.

Study Duration

Not specified

Participants

21 patients with SCI

Evidence Level

Qualitative research study

Key Findings

1
Patients valued a familiar, less clinical environment for rehabilitation, expecting active involvement in their care rather than passive treatment.
2
Close relationships with nurses were crucial, as nurses served as primary reference points and provided essential support throughout the patients' hospital stay.
3
Patients emphasized the importance of receiving clear and honest information about their injury and expected outcomes to facilitate the acceptance process.

Research Summary

This qualitative study assessed the perception of care by patients with spinal cord injury (SCI) to determine whether an integrated and personalized care pathway could be effective both in hospital and in a rehabilitation setting. Six main categories emerged from the perspectives of patients: expectations of rehabilitation care, impact and welcome, relationship with nurses and their involvement in treatment, relationship with physical therapists and participation in rehabilitation programs, relationship with physicians and their availability and attendance, and imparting of information on injury and rehabilitation outcomes. Analysis of the patients’ perceptions revealed a wealth of details on their experience in the SCU and the need for flexible planning of care time in particular. Incorporating the patients’ perceptions into a new care model could increase professionals’ awareness of patients’ needs and provide a useful basis for constructing a personalized care plan.

Practical Implications

Personalized Care Models

Incorporating patient perceptions into care models can lead to more effective and patient-centered rehabilitation programs.

Improved Communication

Healthcare professionals should prioritize clear and honest communication regarding injury and expected outcomes to aid patient acceptance.

Enhanced Nursing Support

Recognizing and supporting the central role of nurses in providing both physical and emotional care is crucial for patient well-being.

Study Limitations

1
Findings are related to the specific geographical, regional, and national context of the Italian healthcare system.
2
A purposeful and small sample size was used, this may have introduced bias.
3
The authors acknowledge that one could never be able to fully describe an individual’s experience, but data saturation may have been reached at the end of the interviews.

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