Abstract
Study design
A qualitative study using focus group discussion.
Objective
To explore the impacts of COVID-19 on multiple aspects of the lives of individuals living with spinal cord injury (SCI) in Nepal.
Setting
Community settings in Nepal.
Methods
A qualitative phenomenological study was conducted using two virtual focus group discussions. Fourteen individuals with SCI residing in different parts of Nepal participated. A thematic analysis approach was used to analyze and interpret the participants’ responses.
Results
The four key themes for the impacts of COVID-19 on individuals with SCI were: (1) physical health with subthemes of (a) difficulty due to the presence of COVID-19 symptoms and (b) deterioration in secondary conditions; (2) mental health with subthemes of (c) constant fear of COVID-19 and (d) psychological distress; (3) social life with subthemes of (e) social stigma and (f) social isolation, and (4) economic problems with subthemes of (g) financial burden and (i) inadequate resources.
Conclusions
The pandemic has tremendously impacted the physical, mental, social, and economic aspects of the lives of individuals with SCI. These, in turn, could impede the functioning and well-being of this population. The utilization of telehealth to provide education, psychosocial support, social awareness programs, and the provision of essential medical supplies appear necessary to maintain and improve the well-being of individuals with SCI during this pandemic. Future studies using an in-depth interview approach and psychosocial interventions are recommended.
【초록키워드】 COVID-19, pandemic, mental health, social isolation, Intervention, Nepal, Deterioration, Health, Impact, Psychological, Spinal cord injury, COVID-19 symptom, community setting, Support, group discussion, thematic analysis, individual, problem, Future, resources, Mental, responses, approach, objective, physical, setting, IMPROVE, Result, was used, conducted, maintain, turn, impacted, participated, 【제목키워드】 pandemic, Nepal, Impact, Spinal cord injury,