Katharina Buchtler1,2, Valerie Carrard3,4, Hermine Jochum5, Katharina Ledermann2,6, Peter Lude3,6,7, Anke Scheel-Sailer8,9. 1. Swiss Paraplegic Centre (SPC), Nottwil, Switzerland. 2. Department of Clinical and Health Psychology, University of Fribourg, Fribourg, Switzerland. 3. Swiss Paraplegic Research, Nottwil, Switzerland. 4. Department of Health Sciences and Medicine, University of Lucerne, Lucerne, Switzerland. 5. Private, former, University Hospital Basel, Basel, Switzerland. 6. Department of Consultation-liaison Psychiatry and Psychosomatics, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland. 7. School of Applied Psychology, Zurich University of Applied Sciences (ZHAW), Zurich, Switzerland. 8. Swiss Paraplegic Centre (SPC), Nottwil, Switzerland. anke.scheel-sailer@paraplegie.ch. 9. Department of Health Sciences and Medicine, University of Lucerne, Lucerne, Switzerland. anke.scheel-sailer@paraplegie.ch.
Abstract
STUDY DESIGN: Qualitative interview-based pilot study. OBJECTIVES: A traumatic spinal cord injury (TSCI) profoundly disrupts the way individuals experience their body. Awareness of one's body is an important element in the psychological adjustment process after TSCI. This pilot study aimed to explore the body experience of individuals during post-acute rehabilitation following TSCI. SETTING: Specialized acute care and rehabilitation center in Switzerland. METHODS: Eight semi-structured face-to-face interviews were conducted with patients in the post-acute phase of their TSCI. Body experience was explored in relation to perceptive, cognitive, emotional, and behavioral aspects. The interviews were transcribed verbatim, and a structured content analysis was performed according to the Mayring method. RESULTS: The individuals verbalized body experience in all explored aspects. The two participants with tetraplegia described high body-related awareness, including dependence on other persons or aids, whereas individuals with paraplegia focused on their ability to regain activity and perceived autonomy, which was sustained by increasing injury- and self-related comprehension. They expressed uncertainty in their understanding of their paralyzed body while also verbalizing to see a continuity in their identity pre and post TSCI. Their emotions varied from anxiety and anger to hope and optimism. The interviewees confirmed that the growing ability to describe perceptions related to their body increased their active participation in the rehabilitation process and stimulated hope for the future. CONCLUSIONS: Exploration of individual body experience after a recent TSCI can strengthen patients' body awareness, communication and engagement in rehabilitation and help the interprofessional rehabilitation team individualize the rehabilitation process.
STUDY DESIGN: Qualitative interview-based pilot study. OBJECTIVES: A traumatic spinal cord injury (TSCI) profoundly disrupts the way individuals experience their body. Awareness of one's body is an important element in the psychological adjustment process after TSCI. This pilot study aimed to explore the body experience of individuals during post-acute rehabilitation following TSCI. SETTING: Specialized acute care and rehabilitation center in Switzerland. METHODS: Eight semi-structured face-to-face interviews were conducted with patients in the post-acute phase of their TSCI. Body experience was explored in relation to perceptive, cognitive, emotional, and behavioral aspects. The interviews were transcribed verbatim, and a structured content analysis was performed according to the Mayring method. RESULTS: The individuals verbalized body experience in all explored aspects. The two participants with tetraplegia described high body-related awareness, including dependence on other persons or aids, whereas individuals with paraplegia focused on their ability to regain activity and perceived autonomy, which was sustained by increasing injury- and self-related comprehension. They expressed uncertainty in their understanding of their paralyzed body while also verbalizing to see a continuity in their identity pre and post TSCI. Their emotions varied from anxiety and anger to hope and optimism. The interviewees confirmed that the growing ability to describe perceptions related to their body increased their active participation in the rehabilitation process and stimulated hope for the future. CONCLUSIONS: Exploration of individual body experience after a recent TSCI can strengthen patients' body awareness, communication and engagement in rehabilitation and help the interprofessional rehabilitation team individualize the rehabilitation process.
Authors: Stefan Essig; Claudia Steiner; Thomas Kühne; Bernhard Kremens; Wolf Langewitz; Alexander Kiss Journal: J Adolesc Young Adult Oncol Date: 2019-01-16 Impact factor: 2.223