Technology enhancing care for veterans with spinal cord injury (TECVetS): an exploratory qualitative study

The integration of digital and assistive technologies (DAT) into health care continues to expand, offering new opportunities to support health, wellbeing, and quality of life. Veterans living with spinal cord injury (SCI) face complex, ongoing challenges in maintaining daily activities, managing, overall health and psychosocial wellbeing. Tools such as smartphones, smartwatches, video-conferencing, and online support systems have the potential to alleviate some of these difficulties by enhancing monitoring, self-management and enabling more flexible access to support. However, little is known about how veterans with SCI and their caregivers perceive or engage with these technologies, particularly as tools to facilitate psychosocial wellbeing. This study explored the perspectives of veterans with SCI and their caregivers regarding areas of value and use of digital and assistive technologies for managing psychosocial distress and promoting wellbeing.

We used explorative qualitative study design and conducted 10 in-depth interviews with veterans with SCI (n = 7) and caregivers (n = 3). Data interpretation was guided by the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM).

Key themes emerging from the interview include, knowledge or awareness of technology-based support, perceived usefulness, mental health challenges, co-morbid conditions, coping strategies, and employment. We found that majority of veterans (90%) (n = 6) and caregivers (100%) (n = 3) expressed strong support for the use of technology-based devices for the management of psychosocial distress, and wellbeing. Our findings highlight the importance of incorporating technology-based support into the provision of health services and design of interventions aimed at improving the daily lives and wellbeing of veterans with SCI.