Abstract
Theoretically informed by narrative inquiry, this article examines the utility of stories as a possible tool for disseminating synthesized physical activity knowledge to adults with spinal cord injury (SCI) and health care professionals (HCPs) working with this population. It is the first research to systematically examine in this context the use of narratives as a knowledge translation tool. Forty-three participants (15 adults with SCI; 13 peer mentors with SCI; and 15 HCPs) individually listened to an evidence-based story set in a rehabilitation hospital about the process of becoming physically active following SCI. Individual telephone interviews were conducted to examine participants' perceptions of the story. Qualitative data were analyzed using a thematic analysis. Five themes were inductively identified: (a) effective communication, (b) narrative authenticity, (c) credible messengers, (d) narrative format, and (e) narrative as a form of action. Together, the themes reveal that the story had utility, the various attributes that help explain why this is case, how the utility might be maximized, what the stories could do on and for people, and how the narratives can be used to support behavior change. The article advances knowledge by revealing the value of narrative as a means for disseminating evidence-based information to people with SCI and to HCPs. It also reveals that stories can be used to facilitate dialogue, teach, remind, reassure, and reinvigorate people. This article is a resource for enabling knowledge to be more effectively shared to different audiences and applying what we know in practice to help people live meaningful lives.
Highlights
The purpose of this paper is to examine the utility of narratives as a knowledge tool for disseminating physical activity knowledge to spinal cord injured adults and health care professionals (HCPs) working with this population
Against the dominant stories that circulate in the Western media, on the internet, or through various people about ‘curing spinal cord injury (SCI)’, for some of participants the stories reassured them about the dangers of peddling stories that suggest that following a SCI a person can regain their ability to walk or gain major neurological improvements through engaging in active physical rehabilitation
This paper offers a model or template others can utilize for designing narrative-based knowledge tools that can be used as part of intervention programs and/or health promotion efforts
Summary
For such processes to be facilitated and outcomes realized, the participants further suggested that it was important to provide an opportunity for people with SCI to engage in follow-up discussions of the story in groups, on a one-to-one basis, or with family; in other words, it is vital to sustain the dialogue that the story generates. Against the dominant stories that circulate in the Western media, on the internet, or through various people about ‘curing SCI’, for some of participants the stories reassured them about the dangers of peddling stories that suggest that following a SCI a person can regain their ability to walk or gain major neurological improvements through engaging in active physical rehabilitation (i.e. a restitution narrative).
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