The experience of seeking recovery interventions for spinal cord injury during the first year: barriers and facilitators

IntroductionSpinal cord injury (SCI) is life changing. Recovery is multi-faceted. Knowing that most injuries are incomplete with potential for meaningful recovery and that there is a limited time during which that recovery occurs, maximizing recovery potential early is essential. The objective of th...

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Main Authors: Kim D. Anderson, Anne M. Bryden, Brian K. Gran, Susan W. Hinze, Mary Ann Richmond
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-05-01
Series:Frontiers in Neurology
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fneur.2025.1541056/full
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author Kim D. Anderson
Kim D. Anderson
Anne M. Bryden
Anne M. Bryden
Brian K. Gran
Brian K. Gran
Brian K. Gran
Susan W. Hinze
Mary Ann Richmond
author_facet Kim D. Anderson
Kim D. Anderson
Anne M. Bryden
Anne M. Bryden
Brian K. Gran
Brian K. Gran
Brian K. Gran
Susan W. Hinze
Mary Ann Richmond
author_sort Kim D. Anderson
collection DOAJ
description IntroductionSpinal cord injury (SCI) is life changing. Recovery is multi-faceted. Knowing that most injuries are incomplete with potential for meaningful recovery and that there is a limited time during which that recovery occurs, maximizing recovery potential early is essential. The objective of this study was to investigate the experience of newly injured people with SCI and their support persons (SP) while they seek out recovery options during the first-year post injury.MethodsSemi-structured interviews were conducted at three intervals across the first year after having sustained SCI in both Veterans and civilians as well as their SP. Interviews were conducted utilizing an interview guide grounded in two frameworks. Interviews were recorded, transcribed, and deidentified. Codes were developed, revised, or added using a constructivist, grounded theory, analytic approach.ResultsThe main source of recovery options was the inpatient rehabilitation team, with delayed access to research teams and people living with SCI. Insurance and institutions are barriers or facilitators to accessing recovery interventions with clear differences between Veteran and civilian healthcare systems. People and knowledge are facilitators. Interest in clinical trials for recovery grows over time, but there are differences based on race. Finding clinical trials and determining eligibility are significant knowledge barriers to the community.DiscussionThis study has revealed knowledge and power imbalances that significantly impede access to recovery interventions sought by people living with SCI and their support persons during their first year after injury. There are clear differences in the experiences of Veterans and civilians.
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spelling doaj-art-e431abcf07b54335945f854fe2db8d9b2025-08-20T02:29:08ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Neurology1664-22952025-05-011610.3389/fneur.2025.15410561541056The experience of seeking recovery interventions for spinal cord injury during the first year: barriers and facilitatorsKim D. Anderson0Kim D. Anderson1Anne M. Bryden2Anne M. Bryden3Brian K. Gran4Brian K. Gran5Brian K. Gran6Susan W. Hinze7Mary Ann Richmond8Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH, United StatesMetroHealth Center for Rehabilitation Research, The MetroHealth System, Cleveland, OH, United StatesDepartment of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH, United StatesMetroHealth Center for Rehabilitation Research, The MetroHealth System, Cleveland, OH, United StatesDepartment of Sociology, Case Western Reserve University College of Arts and Sciences, Cleveland, OH, United StatesSchool of Law, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, United StatesJack, Joseph and Morton Mandel School of Applied Social Sciences, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, United StatesDepartment of Sociology, Case Western Reserve University College of Arts and Sciences, Cleveland, OH, United StatesSpinal Cord Injury/Disorders Center, Veteran Affairs Northeast Ohio Healthcare System, Cleveland, OH, United StatesIntroductionSpinal cord injury (SCI) is life changing. Recovery is multi-faceted. Knowing that most injuries are incomplete with potential for meaningful recovery and that there is a limited time during which that recovery occurs, maximizing recovery potential early is essential. The objective of this study was to investigate the experience of newly injured people with SCI and their support persons (SP) while they seek out recovery options during the first-year post injury.MethodsSemi-structured interviews were conducted at three intervals across the first year after having sustained SCI in both Veterans and civilians as well as their SP. Interviews were conducted utilizing an interview guide grounded in two frameworks. Interviews were recorded, transcribed, and deidentified. Codes were developed, revised, or added using a constructivist, grounded theory, analytic approach.ResultsThe main source of recovery options was the inpatient rehabilitation team, with delayed access to research teams and people living with SCI. Insurance and institutions are barriers or facilitators to accessing recovery interventions with clear differences between Veteran and civilian healthcare systems. People and knowledge are facilitators. Interest in clinical trials for recovery grows over time, but there are differences based on race. Finding clinical trials and determining eligibility are significant knowledge barriers to the community.DiscussionThis study has revealed knowledge and power imbalances that significantly impede access to recovery interventions sought by people living with SCI and their support persons during their first year after injury. There are clear differences in the experiences of Veterans and civilians.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fneur.2025.1541056/fullspinal cord injuryaccess to carerecovery interventionsclinical trialssupport personbarriers to care
spellingShingle Kim D. Anderson
Kim D. Anderson
Anne M. Bryden
Anne M. Bryden
Brian K. Gran
Brian K. Gran
Brian K. Gran
Susan W. Hinze
Mary Ann Richmond
The experience of seeking recovery interventions for spinal cord injury during the first year: barriers and facilitators
Frontiers in Neurology
spinal cord injury
access to care
recovery interventions
clinical trials
support person
barriers to care
title The experience of seeking recovery interventions for spinal cord injury during the first year: barriers and facilitators
title_full The experience of seeking recovery interventions for spinal cord injury during the first year: barriers and facilitators
title_fullStr The experience of seeking recovery interventions for spinal cord injury during the first year: barriers and facilitators
title_full_unstemmed The experience of seeking recovery interventions for spinal cord injury during the first year: barriers and facilitators
title_short The experience of seeking recovery interventions for spinal cord injury during the first year: barriers and facilitators
title_sort experience of seeking recovery interventions for spinal cord injury during the first year barriers and facilitators
topic spinal cord injury
access to care
recovery interventions
clinical trials
support person
barriers to care
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fneur.2025.1541056/full
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