Lindsay O'Dell1, Sarah Earle2, Andy Rixon3, Alison Davies3. 1. Faculty of Wellbeing, Education and Language Studies, The Open University, Milton Keynes, England. 2. Health and Wellbeing Priority Research Area, Faculty of Wellbeing, Education and Language Studies, The Open University Milton Keynes, England. 3. Wellbeing and Social Care, Faculty of Wellbeing, Education and Language Studies, The Open University, Milton Keynes, England.
Abstract
Spinal cord injuries can result in significant physiological and psychological challenges for patients. Nurses have an important role in the rehabilitation of people with a spinal cord injury, as does the provision of peer support by people who are 'living well' after experiencing a spinal cord injury. AIM: To explore peer support and whether it can have an effective role in a multidisciplinary team approach to supporting a patient with a spinal cord injury. METHOD: This was an independent evaluation that used an online survey, a focus group and telephone interviews to elicit the views of respondents about the Spinal Injury Association (SIA) peer support service in England and Wales. There were four groups of respondents: people with a spinal cord injury; their family and friends; peer support officers; and nurse specialists and other healthcare practitioners. FINDINGS: It was identified that peer support officers were valued for their ability to provide a positive role model for people with a spinal cord injury. Healthcare practitioners involved in the care of people with a spinal cord injury also appreciated the training and support they received from peer support officers. CONCLUSION: This evaluation demonstrated that peer support officers were regarded as an important element of a multidisciplinary team approach to managing the care of those who had experienced a spinal cord injury. Peer support officers were also considered a valuable source of information and education, particularly for healthcare practitioners working in settings where spinal cord injury was not a common presentation.
Spinal cord injuries can result in significant physiological and psychological challenges for patients. Nurses have an important role in the rehabilitation of people with a spinal cord injury, as does the provision of peer support by people who are 'living well' after experiencing a spinal cord injury. AIM: To explore peer support and whether it can have an effective role in a multidisciplinary team approach to supporting a patient with a spinal cord injury. METHOD: This was an independent evaluation that used an online survey, a focus group and telephone interviews to elicit the views of respondents about the Spinal Injury Association (SIA) peer support service in England and Wales. There were four groups of respondents: people with a spinal cord injury; their family and friends; peer support officers; and nurse specialists and other healthcare practitioners. FINDINGS: It was identified that peer support officers were valued for their ability to provide a positive role model for people with a spinal cord injury. Healthcare practitioners involved in the care of people with a spinal cord injury also appreciated the training and support they received from peer support officers. CONCLUSION: This evaluation demonstrated that peer support officers were regarded as an important element of a multidisciplinary team approach to managing the care of those who had experienced a spinal cord injury. Peer support officers were also considered a valuable source of information and education, particularly for healthcare practitioners working in settings where spinal cord injury was not a common presentation.
Authors: Aimee J Sarti; Stephanie Sutherland; Maureen Meade; Sam Shemie; Angele Landriault; Brandi Vanderspank-Wright; Sabira Valiani; Sean Keenan; Matthew J Weiss; Kim Werestiuk; Andreas H Kramer; Joann Kawchuk; Stephen Beed; Sonny Dhanani; Giuseppe Pagliarello; Michaël Chassé; Ken Lotherington; Mary Gatien; Kim Parsons; Jennifer A Chandler; Peter Nickerson; Pierre Cardinal Journal: CMAJ Date: 2022-08-08 Impact factor: 16.859