Patient participation from the perspective of staff members working in spinal cord injury rehabilitation

Abstract

Study design: Qualitative method, semi-structured interviews.

Objectives: The aims of this study were to explore the meaning of patient participation from the perspective of staff members working with spinal cord injury (SCI) rehabilitation, and what they saw as requisites for and constraints to patient participation.

Setting: Swedish spinal injury unit.

Methods: Interviews with 13 staff members at a spinal unit were conducted individually and analyzed by means of content analysis.

Results: One category describing patient participation emerged from the interviews: Patient - a team member. Four categories were extracted as requisites: Communication; information and knowledge; routines; respecting the patient as a unique person; and an open climate. Three categories of constraints were identified: Understaffing and new staff members; patients' inability to grasp information; and structures and fragmented responsibilities.

Conclusions: The informants were unanimous in stating that the patient is an integral and natural member of the rehabilitation team. Recognizing the person with SCI as a team member acknowledges and endorses the patient as a person with capabilities to participate in his or her rehabilitation. The patient as a person also means that he or she has unique needs and preferences, which the staff members must accommodate. This is also fundamental in a person-centered approach. Therefore, the viewpoints of the informants may be useful for other settings to enhance person centeredness and patient participation.