Living Longer and Stronger with SCI: Using Participatory Research to Develop an Online Group Health Promotion Program for People Aging with SCI 1144

Abstract

Objectives

To develop and beta-test an online group health promotion program for people aging with spinal cord injury (SCI) in preparation for a national randomized controlled trial.

Design

People with SCI participated in a beta-test of the intervention to provide feedback on acceptability and ways to improve the program.

Setting

The group program was implemented online via Zoom.

Participants

Meeting the same criteria to be used in the full trial, the 6 beta-testers were community-residing adults with SCI who were either 45+ years of age or had been living with their SCI for 15+ years. Beta-testers were diverse in terms of gender, race/ethnicity, level of injury, and geographic location.

Interventions

The investigators partnered closely with community advisors with SCI and a multidisciplinary medical advisory board to develop the Living Longer and Stronger with SCI program. The 8-session program, cofacilitated by a person with SCI and a coinvestigator, addresses physical and psychosocial health of people aging with SCI. Community advisors and the multidisciplinary team codeveloped and reviewed each session to assure relevance, usability, and sensitivity for people with SCI. Sessions included educational content, group discussion, action planning, and relaxation exercises. The team developed intervention materials including PowerPoints, a Participant Handbook, and a detailed Facilitator Manual.

Main Outcome Measures

Beta-testers completed brief evaluation surveys after each session. At the end of the program, they were asked to rate, on a 5-point scale, the program overall and the extent to which each aspect of the program (content, discussion, action planning, relaxation exercises, participant handbook) was helpful. They also responded to open-ended questions asking for suggestions for improving the program overall, the program materials, and the Zoom platform. They were also invited to share additional comments.

Results

The Living Longer and Stronger with SCI program was well received. All 6 beta-testers (100%) rated the program overall as excellent. The majority rated all aspects of the program as helpful: content (100% “very” helpful), discussion (100% “very” helpful), action planning (83% “very,” 17% “somewhat” helpful), relaxation (33% “very,” 50% “somewhat,” 17% “undecided”), and participant handbook (66% “very,” 17% “somewhat,” 17% “undecided”). Although open-ended responses were positive, a few beta-testers suggested more time for group interaction.

Conclusions

Participatory research methods were successful in the development and review of the Living Longer and Stronger with SCI program. Beta-test results were positive and provided additional suggestions that will be used to improve the program prior to the randomized controlled trial.

Disclosures

none.