Spinal cord injured patients' perceived sense of belonging may enhance spiritual well-being

The aim of the study was to qualitatively analyze the meaning of spiritual well-being in a sample of spinal cord injured patients. Following an extensive review of relevant literature a standardized list of interview questions was compiled for the purpose of exploring the definition and description of spiritual well-being by spinal cord injured patients. Six individual interviews were conducted with patients admitted for a spinal cord injury to a regional rehabilitation hospital in the southeast region of the United States. Interviews were conducted while participants were inpatients or directly after discharge. Participants were also asked to reflect on their in-patient experience and identify how their own spiritual well-being could have been enhanced during their stay at the rehabilitation hospital. All interviews were recorded and transcribed verbatim. A thematic analysis of each interview was conducted by all three researchers. The importance of having a “sense of belonging” was identified as the major theme across all six interviews. Participants associated their relationships with family, friends, therapists and fellow patients with similar injuries with a sense of belonging. Outcomes include the importance of psych-social and spiritual support and creating opportunities to develop such a support system. Translation of these findings will be used to design and implement an “after-care” program for spinal cord injured patients following their release from the rehabilitation facility. The program will employ multiple methods including peer mentoring, and professional psychosocial spiritual support post discharge to enhance participants' “sense of belonging”, and spiritual well-being.