Intensive care nurses need to enhance their knowledge and skills related to the use of technologies and patient care by attending training programs and gaining further education. This study recommends that hospital administrators should support sufficient facilities and technologies of care and, in particular, increase the competency of nurses in caring for critically ill patients as the whole person.
Purpose/Objective: The objective of this study was to identify strategies that persons with spinal cord injury (PwSCI) used to cope with COVID-19 pandemic-related challenges. Research Method/Design: This qualitative phenomenological study utilized focus group discussions (FGDs) to collect participants' responses. Two virtual FGDs using Zoom were conducted in June and July, 2021. Each FGD consisted of seven participants with spinal cord injury (SCI) living in communities in Nepal. A thematic analysis approach was used to analyze and interpret the data. Results: Four major themes related to coping strategies PwSCI used during the pandemic were identified: (a) use of social support, (b) serving others, (c) engagement in self-care activities, and (d) positive thinking and creativity. Conclusions/Implications: Findings suggest that many participants used healthy coping strategies to cope with COVID-19 pandemic-related stress and challenges. Identification and reinforcement of healthy coping strategies in PwSCI are essential for health professionals to help these individuals navigate the psychosocial adaptation process during the pandemic.
Impact and ImplicationsThe pandemic has tremendously affected the lives of PwSCI; however, limited research has been conducted to identify how these individuals are coping with the negative impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. This qualitative research adds insights to the understanding of strategies that PwSCI living in low-resource countries used to cope with stressors resulting from the pandemic. The study found that PwSCI were utilizing social support, serving others, engaging in self-care activities, and enhancing positive thinking and creativity to cope with COVID-19-related challenges. The findings can inform health practitioners and researchers in helping PwSCI enhance healthy coping and thus well-being through appropriate service delivery and policy development. A tailored psychosocial intervention is crucial to mitigate the impacts of the pandemic through healthy and adaptive coping.
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