Novel Application of the World Health Organization Community-Based Rehabilitation Matrix to Understand Services’ Contributions to Community Participation for Persons With Traumatic Spinal Cord Injury

Abstract

Purpose The aim of the study is to use the World Health Organization community-based rehabilitation matrix for understanding services’ contributions to foster community participation for people with traumatic spinal cord injury. Methods This study used a convergent mixed-methods design with a quantitative arm describing the frequency with which services contributed to 22 of the community-based rehabilitation–matrix elements and a qualitative arm involving document reviews and stakeholder interviews. Results were integrated following Onwuegbuzie and Teddlie’s method (i.e., quan + QUAL). Results Twenty of the 22 (91%) of the World Health Organization community-based rehabilitation elements were addressed by traumatic spinal cord injury services. Five types of services were identified. Integrated results showed that the strengths of traumatic spinal cord injury services were as follows: (1) comprehensiveness; (2) essential medical services publicly funded; (3) numerous social protections available; and (4) highly active community-based organizations. Identified opportunities to improve these services were as follows: (1) increase specificity for traumatic spinal cord injury and (2) increase communication and integration among services. Conclusions Services available for people with traumatic spinal cord injury in the province studied address most of the elements of the World Health Organization community-based rehabilitation matrix. However, lack of cohesion between services could create gaps that hinder community participation. Addressing these gaps could improve the quality of life and outcomes of people with traumatic spinal cord injury.