"It's been a double-edged sword": An online qualitative exploration of the impact of COVID-19 on individuals with spinal cord injury in the US with comparisons to previous UK findings.

OBJECTIVE: The impact of COVID-19 lockdowns and social distancing for persons with spinal cord injury (SCI) are poorly understood. This exploratory online qualitative study collected self-reported COVID-19 experiences from persons with SCI in the United States (US). To enrich understanding, these data were compared to similar previously-published data from a sample of SCI participants from the United Kingdom (UK). DESIGN: Explorative, online qualitative study. Participants completed an online survey of open-ended qualitative questions pertaining to their experiences during the pandemic. Thematic analysis was utilized to generate themes from the US data. These themes were compared to our previously-published thematic analysis of data from the UK. SETTING: Community-based sample of persons with SCI in the US. PARTICIPANTS: Participants were recruited via SCI-focused research registries and social media outlets serving the SCI community, using convenience sampling (n = 36). Key themes identified in the US data were compared to themes identified in a similar sample from the UK (n = 42) collected at the same time and published previously. RESULTS: Analysis resulted in three themes from the US data, each containing positive and negative qualitative reflections. Themes included (1) health and access to care, (2) making sense of the pandemic, and (3) daily life during the pandemic. Each theme captured common facets of life during the pandemic, often shared by those without physical disabilities, but included accounts particularly relevant to persons with disabilities. Comparisons to thematic findings from the UK study revealed similarities (e.g. healthcare access challenges, isolation) and differences (e.g. importance of previous SCI experiences). CONCLUSION: We detailed common experiences of COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns and their impact on people with SCI, while contrasting these with sense-making positive reflections and social benefits that appeared to be helpful in managing distress and coping with the pandemic.

COVID-19 and the spinal cord injury community: Concerns about medical rationing and social isolation.

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVE: To provide a descriptive account of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the spinal cord injury (SCI) community focused on participants' concerns about medical discrimination and medical rationing, the impact of the pandemic on access to personal care attendants and medical supplies, and the impact of the pandemic on overall and mental health. Research Method/Design: Cross sectional, observational study among community-dwelling adults with SCI. Data were collected online between May 1, 2020 and August 31, 2020 (n = 187). The online questionnaire included questions regarding medical discrimination and rationing, the impact of the pandemic on access to care and medical supplies, and the impact of the pandemic on overall and mental health. RESULTS: Individuals with SCI have experienced difficulty accessing medical supplies due to the pandemic, and approximately half of our participants (52%) perceived that discrimination through medical rationing was occurring. Furthermore, compared to the general U.S. population, our sample reported that the pandemic had a greater negative impact on their mental health and access to medical supplies. CONCLUSION/IMPLICATIONS: Our findings suggest that the COVID-19 pandemic has negatively impacted mental health and increased concerns of social isolation as well as access to medical supplies among those with SCI. Rehabilitation psychologists must advocate alongside the disability community to limit health disparities and to conduct outreach, specifically with regard to mental health issues. Future research should focus on the effects of pandemic-related fears and social isolation, as well as resilience in the context of public health care threats. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved).

'It reminds me that I should stop for the little moments': Exploring emotions in experiences of UK Covid-19 lockdown.

In this study, we explore how participants articulate experiences of emotions during Covid-19 lockdown in the UK. We posit that emotions fulfil experiential and interpersonal functions, which are construed and conveyed through language choices. An online narrative survey was carried out. About 88 responses were analysed. Participants were from England and Wales. The mean age was 48.9 years old (SD = 62). A mixed-method approach was used. This combined quantitative Corpus Linguistics analysis and qualitative Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis with linguistic analysis. The findings show similarities to the public health and medical literature that highlight negative emotions, such as fear, distrust and anger in participants. However, we also found positive emotions not considered elsewhere, including happiness, relaxation, safety, optimism for the future and connectedness arising from the thematic IPA analysis. Emotions were construed using language explicitly labelling emotions and language implicitly signalling emotions. Our study highlights implications for managing risk behaviours associated with transmission in public health practices such as social distancing, as indicated by negative emotions. We also bring to light implications with perceived benefits of engaging in protective behaviours and social support central to public health measures, as suggested by the communication of positive emotions.

Isolated and anxious: A qualitative exploration of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on individuals living with spinal cord injury in the UK.

OBJECTIVE: People living with spinal cord injury (SCI) are often immunocompromised, and at increased risk of respiratory infection. Given the restrictions in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, those with SCI may be at increased risk of health deterioration, though how this is experienced is poorly understood. This study explored the experiences of people living with SCI during the COVID-19 pandemic. DESIGN: Participants completed an online survey consisting of demographic questions, and open-ended qualitative questions pertaining to their experiences during the pandemic. Thematic analysis was utilized for the analytical approach. SETTING: Community-based sample in the UK. PARTICIPANTS: Participants were recruited via social media outlets of UK-based SCI-specific support charities, and snowball sampling (N = 42, F = 34, M = 8). RESULTS: Key themes included: (1) lost access to health services and support, capturing concerns surrounding barriers to healthcare and rehabilitation, which intensified secondary consequences of SCI such as spasm and pain; (2) health anxiety, which was perpetuated by perceived heightened vulnerabilities to respiratory complications; (3) social isolation, with significantly reduced social contact, even with care providers, compounding health experiences. CONCLUSION: People living with SCI during the COVID-19 pandemic experienced a variety of personal physical, psychological, and social challenges, each of which could disrupt daily functioning and quality of life. Increased utilization of telehealth is recommended to support continued engagement in rehabilitation, and foster connection and community amongst others with SCI and health professionals.