Therapeutic groups for patients with spinal cord injuries

A preliminary study was conducted to determine the effectiveness of therapeutic patient groups in a rehabilitation setting. A spinal cord knowledge "Inventory" test was designed to evaluate the success of the group method in disseminating information to patients. The first part of this test assesses the patient's knowledge about body physiology and functioning, health care, and community resources. The second part attempts to evaluate the patient's feelings regarding his body image, sexual attractiveness, and family relationships. The test was administered to 31 spinal cord injured patients upon admission and again just prior to discharge. Eighteen patients participated in a therapeutic patient group, which met twice a week for a month. The other group did not participate in such sessions. The purpose of the meetings was to help the patient adjust to his disability by exchanging commonly needed information and discussing experiences and feelings. Initial results suggest that therapeutic groups can provide an effective means for imparting information to patients. The test also indicates that many patients experience changes in their attitudes and feelings around such sensitive areas as personal worth and self-esteem.