Exploring experiences and changes in daily and social activities among individuals with spinal cord injury during the COVID-19 pandemic: A longitudinal study

Abstract

Objectives: To explore experiences and changes in daily and social activities among individuals living with spinal cord injuries over the first 9 months of the COVID-19 pandemic. Materials and methods: In this longitudinal qualitative study, data were collected by conducting semi-structured interviews with participants at four time points (June 2020, July 2020, August 2020, January 2021). Data were analyzed longitudinally using a recurrent cross-sectional approach. Results: The 22 participants had a mean age of 54 years, 13 were male. We identified three main themes: 1) ‘Dealing with the emotional impact of pandemic-related restrictions’ explored feelings of frustration, sources of anxiety, and the importance of adopting a positive mindset; 2) ‘Changing daily routines’ described aspects of normal routines that changed and ways of adapting to those changes; and 3) ‘Revisiting social engagement’ conveyed the struggles caused by a lack of social engagement and coping strategies to overcome them. Conclusion: This study explicates the changes experienced by the SCI community during various points of the COVID-19 pandemic. Participants discussed feelings of frustration, anxiety, and gratitude. They described changes, challenges, and strategies used when navigating life during the pandemic. These findings can facilitate future research to address the challenges faced by this population.