Abstract:
Objectives: Coping strategies are important following spinal cord injury (SCI). It is equally
important to know the peculiar coping strategy used in a given population with a distinct
cultural background. The aim of this study was to explore the peculiar coping strategies used
by people with SCI in Kano.
Methods: The study was a qualitative interview approved by the research ethics committees of
the Kano State Ministry of Health and National Orthopaedics Hospital, Dala. The participants
were interviewed individually using a qualitative interview guide while their responses were
recorded by a note taker and using a tape recorder. Thereafter, the responses were transcribed,
coded and analyzed using thematic analysis.
Results: Twenty people with SCI having a mean age of 35.10±13.56 years and who were
at least 1 year post SCI participated in the study. The results showed that people with SCI in
Kano use religion mostly (95%), followed by acceptance (45%) and denial, substance use,
blame, seeking social and positive reframing with each having 5%. Additionally, the use of
religion pertains to absolute belief in the will of God as the cause of their condition and use
of regular prayers. However, the use of religion and acceptance seem to be interdependent in
this population.
Discussion: Religion is majorly used as a way to cope and accept a stressful condition such
as SCI in this population. Therefore, healthcare professionals and caregivers are required to
understand the peculiar coping strategies used by a given population so as to help reinforce
them.
Machine summary:
Research Paper: Coping Strategies in People With Spinal Cord Injury: A Qualitative Interviewing Sulaiman Bako Kwah1 , Auwal Abdullahi1* 1.
Coping Strategies in People With Spinal Cord Injury: A Qualitative Interviewing.
The results showed that people with SCI in Kano use religion mostly (95%), followed by acceptance (45%) and denial, substance use, blame, seeking social and positive reframing with each having 5%.
In an exploratory study, Babamohamadi and colleagues reported themes such as seeking help from religious beliefs, hope and making efforts towards independence and self-care as the coping strategies used by people with SCI in Iran [17, 19].
Now that I have this injury, I believe that it is a destiny from God and surely He is going to reward me on that, and I pray to Him to improve my present condi- tion" said participant number 4.
I ranian Rehabilitation Journal June 2018, Volume 16, Number 2 Even in Europe and America where acceptance was reported to be higher, a substantial percentage of people with SCI still use religion as a coping strategy [13, 18].
Additionally, the use of religion as a coping strategy seems to be another way of accepting their conditions.
In the present study, the least used coping strategies are positive reframing, denial, blame, substance use and seeking social support.
Coping strategies, physical func- tion, and social adjustment in people with spinal cord injury.
Coping strategies used by people with spinal cord injury: A qualitative study.