Conception and Development of Sexual Health Indicators to Advance the Quality of Spinal Cord Injury Rehabilitation: SCI-High Project

Overview

Journal J Spinal Cord Med

Date 2019 Oct 2

PMID 31573441

Citations 10

Authors

Stacy Elliott

Gaya Jeyathevan

Shea Hocaloski

Colleen OConnell

Sivakumar Gulasingam

Sandra Mills

Farnoosh Farahani

Anita Kaiser

S Mohammad Alavinia

Maryam Omidvar

B Catharine Craven

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Although spinal cord injury or disease (SCI/D) results in complex biological and psychosocial impairments that adversely impact an individual's overall quality of sexual life, sexual health is poorly integrated into the current rehabilitation processes. Therefore, it is vital to promote sexual health as a rehabilitation priority. Herein, we describe the selection of Sexual Health structure, process and outcome indicators for adults with SCI/D in the first 18 months after rehabilitation admission. Experts in sexual health and the SCI-High team identified key factors that influence the sexual health outcomes of rehabilitation interventions to inform Driver diagram development. This diagram informed the selection and development of indicators to promote a permissive environment for discussion of sexual health issues among regulated health care professionals (HCPs). A review of literature and psychometric properties of measurement tools facilitated final indicators selection. The is the proportion of rehabilitation HCPs who have completed annual preliminary sexual health training. The is the proportion of SCI/D inpatients that have a documented introduction to available local sexual health resources. The is a sexual health patient questionnaire used to assess sexual health patient outcomes and sexual health information/educational needs. Rapid-cycle piloting verified that the indicator tools developed are feasible for implementation. Successful implementation of the Sexual Health structure, process and outcome indicators will promote a permissive environment to enable open discussion, and lead to provision of equitable and optimal care related to sexual health following SCI/D. This will ultimately advance sexual health rehabilitation across the nation.

Citing Articles

Reframing the Science and Practice of Spinal Cord Injury Rehabilitation: Two Decades of Reflection.

Craven B, Popovic M, Musselman K, Black C, Dow H Top Spinal Cord Inj Rehabil. 2024; 29(Suppl):iv-xi.

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Internet-based sexual health resources for those living with spinal cord injury: A content analysis.

Ahrens J, Upper R, Loh E, Wolfe D, Giurleo C, Courten E J Spinal Cord Med. 2023; 47(6):859-880.

PMID: 37428456 PMC: 11533254. DOI: 10.1080/10790268.2023.2220509.

Development of a comprehensive assessment tool to measure the quality of care for individuals with traumatic spinal cord injuries.

Ghodsi Z, Jazayeri S, Pourrashidi A, Sadeghi-Naeini M, Azadmanjir Z, Baigi V Spinal Cord Ser Cases. 2023; 9(1):12.

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Supporting Sexual Functioning and Satisfaction During Rehabilitation after Spinal Cord Injury: Barriers and Facilitators Identified by Healthcare Professionals.

Barrett O, Ho A, Finlay K J Rehabil Med. 2022; 54:jrm00298.

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Transforming SCI rehabilitation care through innovation.

Craven B, Musselman K J Spinal Cord Med. 2021; 44(sup1):S5-S16.

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