Wheelchair users with spinal cord injury are at a high risk of falls. However, the perspectives of wheelchair users with spinal cord injury on their fall circumstances and their preferences for fall prevention strategies/interventions remain understudied. Therefore, we aimed to: a) describe the circumstances of falls experienced by wheelchair users with spinal cord injury over a six-month period, b) explore their perspectives of why falls occurred in certain situations, and c) explore their perspectives on recommended content/structure of fall prevention strategies/interventions. This sequential explanatory mixed methods study had two phases. Phase I involved tracking of falls experienced by wheelchair users with spinal cord injury over six months, in which participants completed a survey after experiencing a fall to track the number/circumstance of each fall. Data from the surveys were descriptively reported. Phase II involved a photovoice focus group discussion of the survey findings and their preferences for fall prevention strategies/interventions. Data from the focus group discussion were analyzed using a thematic analysis. Thirty-two participants completed phase I. More than half of the participants fell at least once in six months. Falls commonly occurred in the afternoon during a transfer, or when participants were wheeling over uneven ground. One-third of the falls caused an injury. Eleven participants that fell during phase I participated in the focus group. Two main themes were identified from the discussion: 1) “circumstances surrounding the falls” (e.g. when falls occurred, the home is a ‘safe space’) and 2) “suggestions and preferences for fall prevention strategies/interventions” (e.g. fall prevention involves all, fall prevention training available as needed). Fall prevention strategies/interventions should be an integral component of rehabilitation practices across the lifespan. Participants recommend customizing fall prevention strategies/interventions to their specific needs to guide the structure, content, and delivery of targeted fall prevention programs.

Study Design: Participatory design. Objectives: Activity-based therapies (ABT) have physical and psychosocial benefits for individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI). A Canadian ABT summit was held to: (1) identify methods used in stroke rehabilitation that may be appropriate for SCI; (2) understand the current state of ABT activities in Canada; and (3) identify priorities for ABT research and care for the next five years. Setting: Stakeholder-engaged meeting at a tertiary rehabilitation hospital. Methods: Thirty-nine stakeholders, including individuals with SCI, frontline clinicians, healthcare administrators, researchers, funders and health policy experts, attended. Two participants were note-takers. Priority identification occurred through input from stakeholder groups, followed by individual voting. Conventional content analysis was used to synthesize the information in the meeting notes. Results: The strengths of ABT in stroke rehabilitation included clear and clinically feasible definitions, measurements and interventions, and recognized requirements for implementation (e.g. behavior change, partnerships). Knowledge gaps concerning ABT activities in Canada were identified for acute and community settings, non-traumatic populations, and the interventions, equipment and standardized measures (i.e. upper limb, activity levels) used. Five priorities for ABT across the continuum of care were identified: (1) Identify current ABT activities; (2) Create a network to facilitate dialog; (3) Track engagement in ABT activities; (4) Develop and implement best practice recommendations; and (5) Study optimal timing, methods, and dose of ABT. Working groups were formed to address priorities 1–3. Conclusions: The priorities will guide SCI research and care activities in Canada over the next five years. Sponsorship: Praxis Spinal Cord Institute.

Purpose: While the physical consequences of falls among wheelchair users with spinal cord injury have previously been examined, the psychosocial impacts remain understudied. Here, we explored the psychosocial impacts of falls and risk of falling from the perspectives of wheelchair users with spinal cord injury. Materials and methods: Twelve wheelchair users (aged 41.8 ± 12.5 years; median 17.5 (range 3–44) years post-spinal cord injury) with traumatic spinal cord injury captured photographs of how falls and the risk of falling impacted their recreation/leisure and paid/volunteer work activities. Participants then engaged in photo-elicitation interviews to discuss the content depicted in the photographs. Interviews were analyzed using a thematic analysis. Results: Two main themes emerged: (1) The varying concern about falling: While some participants experienced a high concern, others were not concerned about falling in their daily activities. The level of concern about falling varied among participants over time and across situations. (2) Fear, falling, and limitations: Falls could impact daily activities, parenting, work, leisure/recreation, and lead participants to want a life without a constant risk of falling. Conclusions: Falls have a significant psychosocial impact for some, but not all participants. Clinicians should explore whether and to what extent falls/fall risk have a lasting psychosocial impact, and work with individuals to create strategies that may reduce negative psychosocial impacts.

There is a high incidence of erectile dysfunction after spinal cord injury. This can have a profound effect on quality of life. Treatment options for erectile dysfunction include sildenafil, intracavernous injections of papaverine/alprostadil (Caverject), alprostadil/papaverine/phentolamine ("Triple Mix"), transurethral suppository (MUSE), surgically implanted prosthetic device and vacuum erection devices. However, physical impairments and accessibility may preclude patient self-utilization of non-oral treatments. The costs and utilities of oral and non-oral erectile dysfunction treatments in a spinal cord injury population were examined in a cost-utility analysis conducted from a government payer perspective. Subjects with spinal cord injury (n=59) reported health preferences using the standard gamble technique. There was a higher health preference for oral therapy. The cost-effectiveness results indicated that sildenafil was the dominant economic strategy when compared with surgically implanted prosthetic devices, MUSE(R) and Caverject. The incremental cost-utility ratios comparing sildenafil with triple mix and vacuum erection devices favoured sildenafil, with ratios less than CAN$20,000 per quality adjusted life year gained. Based on this study, we conclude that sildenafil is a cost-effective treatment for erectile dysfunction in the spinal cord injury population.