Dataset Information

COVID-19 and spinal cord injury and disease: results of an international survey as the pandemic progresses.

ABSTRACT:

Study design

An online survey.

Objectives

To follow-up with and re-query the international spinal cord community's response to the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic by revisiting questions posed in a previous survey and investigating new lines of inquiry.

Setting

An international collaboration of authors and participants.

Methods

Two identical surveys (one in English and one in Spanish) were distributed via the internet. Responses from both surveys were pooled and analyzed for demographic and response data.

Results

Three hundred and sixty-six respondents were gathered from multiple continents and regions. The majority (63.1%) were rehabilitation physicians and only 12.1% had patients with spinal cord injury/disease (SCI/D) that they knew had COVID-19. Participants reported that the COVID-19 pandemic had caused limited access to clinician and support services and worsening medical complications. Nearly 40% of inpatient clinicians reported that "some or all" of their facilities' beds were being used by medical and surgical patients, rather than by individuals requiring inpatient rehabilitation. Respondents reported a 25.1% increase in use of telemedicine during the pandemic (35% used it before; 60.1% during), though over 60% felt the technology incompletely met their patients' needs.

Conclusion

The COVID-19 pandemic has negatively impacted the ability of individuals with SCI/D to obtain their "usual level of care." Moving forward into a potential "second wave" of COVID-19, patient advocacy and efforts to secure access to thorough and accessible care are essential.

SUBMITTER: Gustafson K

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7880520 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

ACCESS DATA

Publications

COVID-19 and spinal cord injury and disease: results of an international survey as the pandemic progresses.

Gustafson Kristin K Stillman Michael M Capron Maclain M O'Connell Colleen C Longoni Di Giusto Melina M Tyagi Nishu N Scivoletto Giorgio G

Spinal cord series and cases 20210212 1

<h4>Study design</h4>An online survey.<h4>Objectives</h4>To follow-up with and re-query the international spinal cord community's response to the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic by revisiting questions posed in a previous survey and investigating new lines of inquiry.<h4>Setting</h4>An international collaboration of authors and participants.<h4>Methods</h4>Two identical surveys (one in English and one in Spanish) were distributed via the internet. Responses from both surveys were po ...[more]

PMID: 33579904

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Dataset Information

COVID-19 and spinal cord injury and disease: results of an international survey as the pandemic progresses.

Study design

Objectives

Setting

Methods

Results

Conclusion

Publications

COVID-19 and spinal cord injury and disease: results of an international survey as the pandemic progresses.

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