Effective communication between patients and healthcare providers can help in improved treatment adherence and overall health outcomes, researchers from Amity University find after conducting a study on the challenges of community inclusion of persons with spinal cord injury (SCI) in the Indian population

The study “Barriers to the community inclusion of individuals with Spinal Cord Injury” by Dr Meenakshi Mohan and Prof Roumi Deb, Department of Anthropology, Amity University, Noida also provides significant insights into the concepts, inter-relationships among various factors, and challenges faced by SCI individuals during community inclusion.

The findings hold importance as these shed light on how individuals with SCI interact with healthcare systems within their respective socio-cultural, economic, and demographic contexts.

The authors noted that most of the participants who sustained spinal cord injuries were in the age range of 18-40 years, i.e., the period of 'prime of life’. “This age group is significant as its members are highly productive and often act as breadwinners for their families,” said Dr Mohan.

The Consultation of Relational Empathy scale (CARE) was employed to understand the patient-provider relationship from the patient's perspective. To ensure participant ease, the scale was translated and validated in Hindi.

 The findings revealed that challenges such as limited accessibility to local transportation, uneven and narrow paths, inadequate public toilets, inappropriate wheelchairs, unemployment, financial constraints, negative attitudes, commiseration, and inferiority complex were commonly reported by individuals with SCI.

 On the other hand, Dr Deb pointed out that coping strategies and facilitators like spirituality, religiosity, and support from family and friends played a vital role in reintegrating SCI individuals into the community.

 Barriers and facilitators play contrasting roles in the lives of SCI patients.

Barriers represent weaknesses, while facilitators represent strengths, the authors said.

 The active involvement of individuals with SCI and their families in the rehabilitation team is crucial for gaining a comprehensive understanding of the injury's impact and alleviating the psychological burden associated with it.

 The study also highlights the paramount importance of patient satisfaction and its role in sustaining the patient-provider relationship.

 According to the authors, empathy and holistic care emerged as significant factors in the patient-provider relationship and communication within a clinical context, indicating a significant relationship between relational empathy, holistic care, and the quality of life in SCI patients.

 A positive association was found between the quality of life and the patient-provider relationship. This suggests that SCI individuals who reported positive and satisfactory consultations with healthcare professionals also reported a better quality of life, and vice versa.

However, these findings indicate room for improvement in various aspects of healthcare delivery, including consultation content, quality, and the overall patient-provider relationship for individuals with SCI.

Additionally, the study underscored the substantial impact of socio-economic status on the patient-provider relationship. The findings demonstrated that individuals with a stable socioeconomic status exhibited more appropriate health-seeking behavior and reported higher satisfaction with their healthcare professionals.

Therefore, the study suggested a pervasive need to enhance patient-centered care, incorporating a holistic approach and empathy. “This not only enhances self-awareness and self-confidence but also instills optimism in individuals facing chronic disabilities such as SCI.”

Furthermore, it enables healthcare professionals to gain profound insights into how an illness affects a person's overall life and their unique requirements. By promoting a balanced integration of the mind, body, emotions, and spirit within a dynamic setting, patient-centered care nurtures comprehensive well-being, said the study.