The Spinal Cord Injury Self-management (SCISM) Program: A Pilot

Research Objectives: To examine the feasibility and acceptability of the Spinal Cord Injury Self-management (SCISM) Program and estimate its effect.

Design: This single-group quantitative pilot study assessed the feasibility and acceptability of the SCISM intervention with the SCI population and estimated the preliminary effect of the intervention. The Institutional Review Board of the University of Missouri, Columbia, reviewed and approved this study. Informed consent was obtained from all participants in this study. Participants were asked to virtually complete a baseline assessment battery (T1), the SCISM Program, post-assessment (T2), and follow-up assessment (T3) three months after the end of the SCISM Program.

Setting: The Institutional Review Board of the University of Missouri, Columbia, reviewed and approved this study. Informed consent was obtained from all participants in this study. Participants were asked to virtually complete a baseline assessment battery (T1), the SCISM Program, post-assessment (T2), and follow-up assessment (T3) three months after the end of the SCISM Program.

Participants: Participants were screened via telephone and included in the study if they were at least 18 years of age, had a documented SCI (traumatic or non-traumatic), were at least six months post injury, able to understand and speak English, and living in the community. Participants were excluded if they were living in a skilled/assisted nursing facility or had sustained their SCI less than six months prior to time of intervention. 32 participants with SCI completed the program.

Interventions: The SCISM Program consisted of six weeks of active intervention. Each week, participants met for a scheduled two-hour group session via Zoom with two SCISM facilitators (occupational therapists). The topics: (1) Introduction to Self-Management and Mental Health, (2) Pain and Spasticity, (3) Skin Care, (4) Diet, Exercise, Upper Extremity Health, and Aging, (5) Bowel and Bladder, (6) Respiratory Function, Autonomic Dysreflexia, Sexual Functioning and Intimacy, and Advocacy and Resource Finding. Group sessions included brainstorming, one-on-one discussion, and active group participation. Weekly, participants created a goal and action plan. Participants also completed weekly virtual individual sessions with a facilitator.

Main Outcome Measures: The primary outcomes were feasibility, acceptability, secondary health conditions, and goal attainment. Participants were assessed at baseline, post-intervention, and 3-month follow-up.

Results: Findings indicated the SCISM Program was feasible and acceptable for use with moderate positive effects on SHCs and large positive effects in goal attainment.

Conclusions: People with chronic SCI want to continue improving SM skills. The SCISM Program is feasible, acceptable, and should be examined further to reduce SHCs following SCI.

Author(s) Disclosures: N/A