Abstract
Study designA feasibility study, supplemented by a noncontrolled pretest/posttest.ObjectivesTo examine if a nationwide volunteer peer-mentoring program for in-patients with acute/subacute spinal cord injury is feasible and achievable.SettingThe Spinal Cord Injury Center of Western Denmark and Clinic for Spinal Cord Injuries, Rigshospitalet, Denmark.MethodsVolunteer mentor groups were formed similarly in two highly specialized SCI centers covering Denmark. Hospital staff was responsible for referral to the mentoring project and for the interdisciplinary evaluation of patient eligibility. At each of the two centers, a person living with the consequences of SCI coordinated the intervention in collaboration with healthcare personnel. Designated project personnel introduced eligible participants to the project. Staff at the SCI centers arranged to fit in the supplementary mentoring with ongoing treatment. A self-report questionnaire was completed prior to and after peer intervention. Outcome: patient reports regarding mentoring sessions, change in quality of life (QoL), depression items from the Short Form Health Survey (SF-36), pain frequency and intensity (11-point Numerical Rating Scale).ResultsA nationwide mentor corps was established. Fifty-two eligible in-patients completed the study. Significant improvement in QoL was found after mentoring. Frequency and intensity of pain did not change, although five out of nine depression items improved significantly. A majority (94%) of the participants recommended others to meet with a peer mentor.ConclusionsEstablishing a nationwide volunteer mentor system at a highly specialized neuro-rehabilitation units for SCI in-patients is both feasible and acceptable.
Highlights
Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a relatively rare but life-altering condition, regardless of the extent and severity of the injury
Data were collected during a one-year inclusion period (1 January 2016 to 31 December 2016) in a joint venture between the SCI centers of Eastern and Western Denmark and RYK, the Danish Spinal Cord Injuries Association user organization
Meetings could occur anytime throughout the rehabilitation period, and the appropriate timing of initiating the sessions was based on a joint decision, made by the mentee, the interdisciplinary team, and the project members
Summary
The purpose of this study was to investigate if organizing a nationwide cross-organizational peer mentoring system for in-patients with SCI in a primary rehabilitation as a supplement to high level professional neuro-rehabilitation would be feasible in a nationwide hospital setting and if it would be acceptable for patients to becoming mentees. The main purpose of this study was to investigate whether it was feasible to organize a nationwide mentor corps and provide mentoring in highly specialized SCI rehabilitation hospitals
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