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Osborne JB, Rocchi MA, McBride CB, McKay R, Gainforth HL, Upper R, Sweet SN. Couples' experiences with sexuality after spinal cord injury. Disabil Rehabil 2023; 45:664-672. [PMID: 35191794 DOI: 10.1080/09638288.2022.2040611] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE To explore sexuality after spinal cord injury (SCI) from the perspectives of individuals with SCI and their romantic partners. METHODS A sample of 8 Canadian adults with SCI (6 men, 2 women) and their partners participated in this study (N = 16). Semi-structured dyadic and individual interviews were conducted, discussions surrounding sexuality and intimacy were extracted, and a qualitative description of the interview data was performed using thematic analysis. RESULTS Three major themes were identified: the changing definition of sex; emotions; and practical support. Couples' conversations around the changing definition of sex after SCI addressed the taboo topic of sexuality and the importance of communication between couples, peers, and healthcare providers. Emotions included fears of losing intimacy, embarrassment in managing bladder and bowel interference, and acceptance in balancing being a romantic partner and a caregiver. Finally, couples reported challenges accessing practical support including medical interventions and sexual health nurses, but saw value in peer mentorship programs. CONCLUSION Couples explored a changing definition of sex following SCI that was complicated by the taboo nature of discussing sexuality, experienced a range of emotions throughout the recovery process, and had difficulties navigating the healthcare system for appropriate support.IMPLICATIONS FOR REHABILITATIONHealthcare professionals should promote discussion and provide support for sexuality following SCI, but during initial rehabilitation may be too early.Healthcare providers should prepare people with SCI and their partners for the inevitable trial-and-error process involved in sexual rehabilitation.Rehabilitation professionals could direct couples to SCI peer mentorship programs to help normalize the experiences and emotions of sexual rehabilitation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jake B Osborne
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Meredith A Rocchi
- Department of Communication, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | | | - Rhyann McKay
- School of Health and Exercise Sciences, University of British Columbia Okanagan, Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Heather L Gainforth
- School of Health and Exercise Sciences, University of British Columbia Okanagan, Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Randy Upper
- Lawson Health Research Institute, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - Shane N Sweet
- Department of Kinesiology and Physical Education, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
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Alexander D, Caron JG, Comeau J, Sweet SN. An exploration of the roles and experiences of SCI peer mentors using creative non-fiction. Disabil Rehabil 2022; 44:6824-6832. [PMID: 34613859 DOI: 10.1080/09638288.2021.1977395] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE Spinal cord injury (SCI) peer mentors are individuals who, through their lived experiences, offer emotional support and empathetic understanding to others living with SCI to foster positive health, independence, and well-being. This study explored SCI peer mentors' perceptions of their roles and experiences. MATERIALS AND METHODS Six paid or volunteer peer mentors participated in semi-structured interviews. We first explored the data using thematic narrative analysis to identify patterns, themes, and narrative types. Next, we analyzed the narrative types using creative analytical practices to construct and refine the stories. RESULTS Based on our analysis, we developed two stories from a storyteller perspective to present a snapshot of SCI peer mentors' experiences. The first story focuses on a "discovery" narrative from the point of view of Casey who adopted a person-centered approach to mentoring, focusing their attention on the needs of the mentee. The second story focuses on Taylor's experiences with the "dark" side of peer mentorship, which focuses on the psychological toll of being a SCI peer mentor, from discussions about suicidal thoughts with clients to struggling with burnout. CONCLUSIONS Results provided insights for support services regarding the importance of supporting the mental health of mentors to ensure they continue delivering high quality mentorship.Implications for rehabilitationPeer mentors need to be educated on the significance of their role in the rehabilitation process and how their interpersonal behaviours can influence their mentees, both positively and negatively.Peer mentors should receive formalized and accessible training to ensure they are equipped with effective mentoring skills, but also providing them with tools to cope with physical, mental, and emotional stressors they may encounter as mentors.There is a need to continue diversifying and improving the types of services provided to SCI peer mentors in addition to one-on-one counselling, such as interactive educational workshops, for peer mentors to learn and practice coping skills, including mindfulness, meditation, and action-planning.As with other paid employees, SCI peer mentors should be trained to recognize when they are feeling depleted and be supported in seeking appropriate care from a health professional to provide quality psychosocial services to others.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danielle Alexander
- Department of Kinesiology and Physical Education, McGill University, Montreal, Canada.,Center for Interdisciplinary Research in Rehabilitation, Montreal, Canada
| | - Jeffrey G Caron
- Center for Interdisciplinary Research in Rehabilitation, Montreal, Canada.,School of Kinesiology and Physical Activity Sciences, Université de Montréal, Montreal, Canada
| | - Jacques Comeau
- Department of Kinesiology and Physical Education, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
| | - Shane N Sweet
- Department of Kinesiology and Physical Education, McGill University, Montreal, Canada.,Center for Interdisciplinary Research in Rehabilitation, Montreal, Canada
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Wasilewski MB, Rios J, Simpson R, Hitzig SL, Gotlib Conn L, MacKay C, Mayo AL, Robinson LR. Peer support for traumatic injury survivors: a scoping review. Disabil Rehabil 2022:1-34. [PMID: 35680385 DOI: 10.1080/09638288.2022.2083702] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Peers are uniquely able to draw on their lived experiences to support trauma survivors' recovery. By understanding the functions and outcomes of peer support and the factors that impact implementation, evidence can be mobilized to enhance its application and uptake into standard practice. As such, we aimed to review the literature on peer support for trauma survivors to: examine the role of peer support in recovery; describe the nature and extent of peer support; Examine the influence of peer support on health and well-being; and identify the barriers and facilitators to developing and implementing peer support. METHODS Scoping review methodology as outlined by Arksey and O'Malley. RESULTS Ninety-three articles were reviewed. Peer support was highlighted as an important component of care for trauma survivors and provided hope and guidance for the future post-injury. Most peer support programs were offered in the community and provided one-on-one support from peer mentors using various modalities. Interventions were successful when they involved knowledgeable peer mentors and maintained participant engagement. Prior negative experiences and stigma/privacy concerns deterred trauma survivors from participating. CONCLUSIONS Peer support fulfills several functions throughout trauma survivors' recovery that may not otherwise be met within existing health care systems. Implications for rehabilitationBy understanding the functions and outcomes and the factors that impact implementation of peer support, evidence can be mobilized to enhance its application and uptake into standard practice.Peers provide trauma survivors with socioemotional support as well as assistance in daily management and life navigation post-injury.Peer support provided hope and guidance for the future after injury and improved self-efficacy amongst trauma survivors.Peer support programs are most likely to be successful when they involve knowledgeable peer mentors, are flexibly delivered, align with organizations' values and priorities, and have adequate resources and funding to support their implementation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marina B Wasilewski
- St. John's Rehab Research Program, Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.,Department of Occupational Science & Occupational Therapy, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.,Temerty Faculty of Medicine, Rehabilitation Sciences Institute, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Jorge Rios
- St. John's Rehab Research Program, Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Robert Simpson
- Toronto Rehabilitation Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Sander L Hitzig
- St. John's Rehab Research Program, Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.,Department of Occupational Science & Occupational Therapy, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.,Temerty Faculty of Medicine, Rehabilitation Sciences Institute, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Lesley Gotlib Conn
- Tory Trauma Research Program, Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Crystal MacKay
- West Park Healthcare Centre, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.,Department of Physical Therapy, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Amanda L Mayo
- St. John's Rehab Research Program, Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.,Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Department of Medicine, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.,Division of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Lawrence R Robinson
- St. John's Rehab Research Program, Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.,Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Department of Medicine, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.,Division of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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Physical activity and sedentary behavior in people with spinal cord injury: Mitigation strategies during COVID-19 on behalf of ACSM-EIM and HL-PIVOT. Disabil Health J 2021; 15:101177. [PMID: 34330682 PMCID: PMC8665656 DOI: 10.1016/j.dhjo.2021.101177] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2021] [Revised: 07/22/2021] [Accepted: 07/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
People with spinal cord injury (SCI) face unique challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic, including greater risk of poor COVID-19-related outcomes, increased social isolation, and restricted access to important services. Furthermore, COVID-19 related restrictions have decreased already low levels of physical activity (PA) in this population. Therefore, the purpose of this commentary is to: 1) address the impact of COVID-19 on PA and sedentary behavior (SB) in people with SCI; 2) provide potential SB reduction strategies to guide future research; and 3) provide recommendations to increase PA and reduce SB on behalf of the American College of Sports Medicine Exercise is Medicine (ACSM-EIM) and Healthy Living for Pandemic Event Protection (HL-PIVOT) using a social-ecological model targeting the individual-, social environment-, physical environment-, and policy-level determinants of behavior in people with SCI.
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Ho C, Atchison K, Noonan VK, McKenzie N, Cadel L, Ganshorn H, Rivera JMB, Yousefi C, Guilcher SJT. Models of Care Delivery from Rehabilitation to Community for Spinal Cord Injury: A Scoping Review. J Neurotrauma 2021; 38:677-697. [PMID: 33191849 DOI: 10.1089/neu.2020.7396] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a chronic condition that results in high healthcare utilization and lifetime cost across the care continuum. In the absence of a standardized model of care delivery for SCI in western countries such as Canada, a scoping review of the literature was performed to identify and summarize existing international SCI models of care delivery. Four databases were searched using key words and subject headings for concepts such as: "spinal cord injury," "delivery of healthcare," "model of care," "patient care planning," and "care pathway." Title, abstract, and full text review were competed by two independent reviewers. A combined total of 46 peer-reviewed and gray literature articles were included. No single SCI model of care has been adopted across different countries internationally. However, optimal attributes of models of care were identified, including the importance of having multidisciplinary SCI specialty care providers along the continuum, provision of rural SCI services and outreach, integration of primary care, peer mentoring, and using a hub and spokes model of care. These findings inform the future development of an SCI model of care, which ideally would serve all geographical locations and span the continuum of care, improving the health status and quality of life of persons with SCI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chester Ho
- Division of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Department of Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Kayla Atchison
- Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Vanessa K Noonan
- Praxis Spinal Cord Institute, Blusson Spinal Cord Centre, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Nicole McKenzie
- Foothills Medical Centre, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Lauren Cadel
- Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Heather Ganshorn
- Libraries and Cultural Resources, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Joanna Marie B Rivera
- Praxis Spinal Cord Institute, Blusson Spinal Cord Centre, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Charlene Yousefi
- Praxis Spinal Cord Institute, Blusson Spinal Cord Centre, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Sara J T Guilcher
- Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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