Grant: Planning and Dissemination Grant - Institute Community Support

Around 86,000 Canadians live with spinal cord injury (SCI), a serious injury to the spinal cord that gives rise to physical challenges, including paralysis, as well as wide ranging associated complications and costs. Pressure injury (PI) is one of the most serious complications of SCI and over 90% of sufferers will experience at least one PI. While the costs to the healthcare system are enormous, the burden to the individual is even greater as PIs contribute to further mobility challenges, social isolation, and potentially death. Over 70% of PIs are preventable and occur due to failures in care and equipment. Persons with SCI are most at risk during the early stages of their injury, or when accessing unplanned hospital care, such as the emergency department (ED). While there is growing evidence to support the management of PIs, little is known about how to prevent and manage PI in persons with SCI accessing the ED. As a frequent place of care for people with SCI, this research responds to a high-risk healthcare issue in a high-risk setting for people with SCI. This patient-driven research brings together people with SCI, along with leading experts in emergency medicine, SCI and PI, and patient-oriented research to inform targeted solutions and strategies. First, we will gather insights from patients and other experts and will examine barriers and facilitators of PI prevention and management for persons with SCI in the ED. Second, we will convene a diverse group of ED and SCI experts, including patients, and will conduct a virtual planning meeting. We will facilitate focused discussions and collectively identify health system and research priorities that will inform the creation of a patient-oriented research plan and the co-development of a future research funding application. These activities directly address an important knowledge gap and will inform future healthcare and research initiatives that respond to this complex and costly healthcare issue.