The Lived Experience of Persons with Spinal Cord Injuries Engaging in Remote Work: A South African Perspective.
Alicia Swart, Jerome Peter Fredericks, Lee-Ann Juliana Jacobs-Nzuzi Khuabi
PMID 37915396WHAT IT FOUND
Four people with spinal cord injuries in remote jobs described remote work as allowing schedule changes, better bladder and bowel management, and less commuting.
They also reported social isolation, less mobility, and dependence on employer support.
Key findings
01Participants described remote work as allowing them to tailor schedules and environments, manage bladder and bowel routines, and spend less time commuting.
02Participants described remote work as reducing social engagement at work and decreasing physical mobility, transfers, and wheelchair propulsion.
03Participants described remote work success as dependent on employer support, job level, and whether duties were client-facing or required supervision.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for OTs
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What it does not show
Only four people participated, so the findings cannot be generalised to all people with spinal cord injuries. Twenty potential participants were contacted, and fifteen did not respond, so the findings may represent only a small subset of those invited. Participants were English-speaking, had tertiary education, worked in corporate settings, and were at mid to higher employment levels. The study focused only on people already working remotely, so it does not show what prevents people with spinal cord injuries from starting remote work.
The easy way to misread this
Do not conclude that remote work improves employment for people with spinal cord injuries. This study reports the experiences of four participants who were already working remotely, not measured employment outcomes.