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Joseph C.1,2, Nilsson-Wikmar L.1
1Karolinska Institutet, Division of Physiotherapy, Stockholm, Sweden, 2University of the Western Cape, Physiotherapy, Cape Town, South Africa
Background: The role of peer support in assisting newly spinal cord-injured individuals making a positive adjustment is well documented, with further evidence emerging that may assert its role in 'fast-tracking' participation. However, this support service is not fully embedded within the health care and comprehensive rehabilitation model of South Africa.
Purpose: Given the challenges (e.g. resource constraints, man-power, poor quality of rehabilitation services) facing the current system, a need exists to explore the role and impact of peer mentoring in helping survivors on the path of reclaiming meaning and participation following spinal cord injury. A secondary aim was to explore the reasons for success of the peer mentoring programme.
Methods: A qualitative design, using inductive analysis, was used to explore the different trajectories of participation following SCI of those who received and failed to receive peer mentoring, respectively. Seventeen (17) adult survivors of TSCI were interviewed, with the dialogue audio recorded and transcribed verbatim, and asked these questions: how would you describe your experiences of the peer mentoring programme? How did the peer mentoring assist you with life following injury? Why do you think the peer mentoring worked for you? All interviews were read several times, and the end result was one theme comprising two sub-themes.
Results: Trajectories to reclaiming meaning and participation was the overall theme, with the subthemes a journey of liberation and celebration and a journey dominated by challenges. The first sub-theme emerged as participants described the role and impact of peer mentoring in terms of gaining the necessary knowledge of and insights into dealing with the new body and engaging in an environment not naturally suited for them. They further expressed that the stories of their mentors succeeding with reclaiming a meaningful life demonstrated effective in eliciting internal motivation to dominate over their own challenges and obstacles. The second sub-theme emerged as participants who have not received peer mentoring, or only had access to it later on in life, expressed accounts of always battling a situation where they feel they will be eventually defeated. They further expressed accounts of social exclusion due to not knowing their capabilities.
Conclusion(s): Routine peer mentoring following a TSCI appears to facilitate the process of reclaiming meaning and participation even when provided later on in life. This could be due to the unique relationship that develops between equal-minded individuals that share similar experiences.
Implications: Peer mentors are in a favourable position to inform rehabilitation professionals, such as physical therapists, on the process of reclaiming important elements and situations of the past, and should therefore work alongside care providers to assist newly-injured individuals making a positive adjustment to life.
Funding acknowledgements: This project received funding from the Medical Research Council of South Africa.
Topic: Neurology: spinal cord injury
Ethics approval: Senate Research Ethics Committee of University of the Western Cape provided ethical clearance (number: 13/4/27)
All authors, affiliations and abstracts have been published as submitted.
