Experiences of secondary health conditions amongst people with spinal cord injury in South Africa: A qualitative study.
Sonti I Pilusa, Hellen Myezwa, Joanne Potterton
PMID 33937547WHAT IT FOUND
People with spinal cord injury described secondary health conditions such as pain, bowel and bladder problems, pressure sores and spasms as limiting movement, daily care, work and social life.
They also reported fear, shame, sadness and some new coping skills.
Key findings
01Pain was the most common secondary health condition, reported by 94% of participants.
02Secondary health conditions limited function and mobility, including holding crutches, sitting in a wheelchair, toileting and bathing.
03Bowel problems, bladder problems, pressure sores and pain restricted leaving home, work and everyday routines.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTsWhat it means for OTs
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What it does not show
Only 17 people were interviewed, all at one public tertiary rehabilitation hospital in Gauteng, so the themes may not fit people with spinal cord injury in other settings or with different injury profiles. The group included 14 men, 14 people with trauma-related injuries, 14 people with paraplegia and 14 wheelchair users, so experiences of women, tetraplegia, non-trauma causes and non-wheelchair users were limited. Five participants were interviewed after readmission for pressure sores, which may overrepresent people with recurrent skin problems. The study reports experiences and themes, not measured outcomes, so it cannot show that any therapy prevented or improved these conditions.
The easy way to misread this
Do not read the reported prevalence of pain as the true rate for all people with spinal cord injury in South Africa. It comes from a small interview group at one public tertiary rehabilitation hospital, so it describes this sample.