Document Type : Original Article
Authors
1 Department of Occupational Therapy, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation, Tehran, Iran.
2 Occupational Therapy MSc student at the University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation, Tehran, Iran.
Abstract
Introduction: Rehabilitation services as a set of measures to improve health, increase independence, and return to everyday life are mandatory for individuals with spinal cord injuries. The most critical challenge that has arisen in recent years to provide these services in a timely and appropriate manner is the global spread of a virus called Corona; For this purpose, this research was conducted to explain the facilitating factors in accessing individuals with spinal cord injuries to rehabilitation services during the Coronavirus pandemic.
Methods: The current research was conducted with a qualitative paradigm and the conventional content analysis approach in 2023, Tehran. The participants were 25 who were selected by purposive sampling. Data were collected and analyzed using semi-structured interviews. MAXQDA 2020 software was used to organize the collected data and facilitate their coding.
Findings: The analysis of participants’ experiences led to the identification of 876 codes, 8 subcategories, and 4 main categories as facilitating factors of accessing rehabilitation services, including supportive community, optimizing health matters, facilitator therapeutic facilities, and reliance on individual abilities.
Conclusion: According to the findings, appropriate access to rehabilitation services, requires a comprehensive understanding and an accurate identifying the facilitators. Therefore, the results of this study can be used in the field of policy making, planning, and developing appropriate and timely protocols to improve the access of individuals with spinal cord injuries to rehabilitation services during critical times similar to the Coronavirus pandemic in the future.
Keywords
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