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Purpose: Rebuilding a strong sense of meaning and purpose following trauma is a vital contributor to post-traumatic growth and adapting well to a spinal cord injury. This project aimed to develop an intervention that used the concept of post-traumatic growth to foster a stronger sense of meaning and purpose in people with a spinal cord injury. Methods: Using participatory action research methodology, the intervention was designed in an iterative process with health professionals and people with lived experience of spinal cord injury. We developed a ten-week online group program and delivered two pilot programs to 13 participants. We used their feedback to further refine the program before finalisation. Results: A participatory action research approach resulted in a positive intervention well received by participants and consumer organisations. Feedback suggests the intervention shows promise for improvements in functional and psychosocial outcomes and has long-term viability. Conclusions: The project successfully developed and delivered a novel program that uses the concept of post-traumatic growth to foster a stronger sense of meaning and purpose. Further implementation of the program with larger numbers will allow for evaluation of the program's effectiveness. IMPLICATIONS FOR REHABILITATION: Group-based intervention programs based on principles of post-traumatic growth can help people with spinal cord injury explore meaning and purpose. Co-design, development and implementation of interventions help to ensure such programs appeal to consumers, meet their needs, and are sustainable. Interventions can be delivered effectively online. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractPurposeMethodsResultsConclusions\nImplications for rehabilitationTo date, no evidence-based, community-based online group intervention has been designed specifically to enhance posttraumatic growth (PTG), quality of life (QoL), sense of meaning and purpose, and satisfaction with life following a spinal cord injury (SCI). This qualitative study aims to describe participants’ experiences of participating in such a program.Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 17 people with SCI and analysed using a thematic analysis approach.Five major themes were identified: longing for connection; empowerment through education and participation; journeying through common experiences; connecting to the program content; and continuing to contemplate PTG and meaning and purpose. The themes represent how participants were drawn to the program because they longed to connect with others in similar situations. Participants engaged in a shared group process of learning and reflection as well as an individual journey in which they connected with different elements of the program. As a result, PTG was seen as a continuous and individual process that evolved out of shared group processes.This study highlights the importance of addressing psychological needs alongside physical rehabilitation for individuals with SCI. Shared experiences and strength-based approaches can be valuable tools in promoting positive psychological outcomes.This article reports on the impact of a novel community-based, online, group intervention, the Engage program, aimed at facilitating the recognition or generation of post-traumatic growth for people with spinal cord injuries.The program offers a safe space where participants can explore the impact that acquiring a spinal cord injury can have on their sense of meaning and purpose and identify where they could build this again in their lives.Breaking down the concepts of posttraumatic growth (PTG) and meaning and purpose into questions like “what gets me out of bed in the morning” and “what fills my cup” helps people with spinal cord injuries understand and relate to these existential topics.Engaging participants in group conversation and reflection on the concepts of PTG and meaning and purpose helps stimulate individual reflection outside the group.Individual coaching sessions are vital to putting the program content into practice for participants individually.This article reports on the impact of a novel community-based, online, group intervention, the Engage program, aimed at facilitating the recognition or generation of post-traumatic growth for people with spinal cord injuries.The program offers a safe space where participants can explore the impact that acquiring a spinal cord injury can have on their sense of meaning and purpose and identify where they could build this again in their lives.Breaking down the concepts of posttraumatic growth (PTG) and meaning and purpose into questions like “what gets me out of bed in the morning” and “what fills my cup” helps people with spinal cord injuries understand and relate to these existential topics.Engaging participants in group conversation and reflection on the concepts of PTG and meaning and purpose helps stimulate individual reflection outside the group.Individual coaching sessions are vital to putting the program content into practice for participants individually. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context Existential and spiritual factors are known to play an important role in how people cope with disability and life-threatening illnesses such as cancer. However, comparatively little is known about the impact of pain on factors such as meaning and purpose in one's life and their potential roles in coping with pain. Objectives The aim of this study was to determine spiritual well-being scores in people with persistent pain and to compare these with people with cancer and healthy controls. Methods We assessed 132 people with chronic pain, 74 people with cancer (49 with pain and 25 without pain) and 68 control participants using standardised measures of pain-related variables including pain intensity, physical function, mood and cognitions. Spiritual well-being was also assessed using a validated and widely used questionnaire, the Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy – Spirituality Scale (FACIT-Sp). Results Spiritual well-being scores were significantly lower in people with persistent pain when compared with controls and were no different when compared with people with cancer, including those who had cancer and pain. In addition, low levels of meaning and purpose were significant predictors of depression, anxiety, and stress across all groups. Conclusion The findings demonstrate that persistent pain is associated with spiritual distress that is equal to those observed in people who have cancer. Furthermore, those who have higher levels of meaning and purpose are less likely to develop mood dysfunction when experiencing pain, indicating they may have a protective role. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. Multiethnic societies face challenges in delivering evidence-based culturally competent health care. This study compared health-related quality of life and psychological morbidity in a hospital-based sample of first-generation migrants and Australian-born Anglo cancer patients, controlling for potential confounders related to migrant status. Further, it explored the relative contribution of ethnicity versus migrant-related variables. Methods. Eligible participants, recruited via 16 oncology clinics in Australia, included those over the age of 18, diagnosed with cancer (any type or stage) within the previous 12 months and having commenced treatment at least 1 month previously. Results. In total, 571migrant patients (comprising 145 Arabic, 248 Chinese, and 178 Greek) and a control group of 274 Anglo-Australian patients participated. In multiple linear regression models adjusted for age, sex, education, marital status, socioeconomic status, time since diagnosis, and type of cancer, migrants had clinically significantly worse health-related quality of life (HRQL; 3.6-7.3 points on FACT-G, p < .0001), higher depression and anxiety (both p < .0001), and higher incidence of clinical depression (p < .0001) and anxiety (p = .003) than Anglo-Australians. Understanding the health system (p < .0001 for each outcome) and difficulty communicating with the doctor (p = .04 to .0001) partially mediated the impact of migrancy. In migrant-only analyses, migrant-related variables (language difficulty and poor understanding of the health system), not ethnicity, predicted outcomes. Conclusion. Migrants who develop cancer have worse psychological and HRQL outcomes than Anglo-Australians. Potential targets for intervention include assistance in navigating the health system, translated information, and cultural competency training for health professionals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examined the content covered by radiation therapists (RTs) during education sessions; the frequency and types of questions asked by patients; and the relationship between patient characteristics and the number of questions asked. Fifty‐eight education sessions were audio‐recorded and transcribed verbatim. A coding scheme was developed to examine the frequency of topics covered. It comprised 16 topics under four themes: (a) treatment schedule, (b) procedural information, (c) treatment‐related side effects and (d) who will be involved in treatment provision. All education sessions covered information about the treatment plan (n = 58, 100%), and the majority described procedural information about what happens in the treatment room (n = 56, 97%). Least information was given about who will be providing treatment. On average, patients asked a mean of 6 questions (SD = 4.95; range = 0–28). Most frequently asked questions concerned the general treatment (logistics, schedule), accounting for 67% of all questions asked. The least common types of questions were related to the impact of treatment (6%). There were no statistically significant differences in the total number of questions and patient demographics. Patients are provided with most, but not all, of the recommended information. Tailoring of information by RTs was enabled in response to questions asked. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]