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OBJECTIVE: During the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, hospital visitation restrictions hindered patients' access to vital social support. This study explores the impact and feasibility of a student-led program facilitating audiovisual communication between inpatient rehabilitation patients and their caregivers. METHODS: The study design employed a prospective observational approach, and convenience sampling enrolled 99 participants, including 33 patients, 33 caregivers, and 33 medical students. From September 2021 to March 2022, eligible patients admitted to an inpatient rehabilitation hospital identified a caregiver and participated in a 30-minute audiovisual call organized by a medical student. Post-visit surveys via RedCap were completed by all participants and covered limitations in video calls, program benefits, comfort levels in video conferencing, and overall program ratings. The study adopted a quantitative research paradigm for data analysis. Statistical analysis utilized pairwise McNemar's and Wilcoxon's test for inter-group comparison. RESULTS: Patients, caregivers, and medical students all reported positive outcomes in program offerings including providing social support, decreasing feelings of isolation, and providing a feeling of connection. Patients rated the program 4.82 ± 0.47 on a Likert scale, with 97% recommending it to others, even beyond visitation restrictions. The most common diagnosis among patients was stroke (30%), highlighting the program's potential applicability across diverse patient populations. Caregivers rated the program 4.59 ± 0.87 and expressed a desire for its continuation post-restrictions (80%). Medical students (81%) recommended the program, citing benefits in reducing social isolation and gaining clinical experience. No statistical differences were observed between groups in emotional and humanistic domains. CONCLUSION: This study highlights the potential for programs to utilize technology to address social isolation in the healthcare setting. When public health restrictions occur, medical educators should consider opportunities to support and foster innovation for student-led programs. Further research should explore broader impacts on healthcare outcomes and medical education.
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CONTEXT/OBJECTIVE: To compare the beliefs and practices of individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI), their friends and family members (F&F SCI), and healthcare professionals (HCP) regarding complementary alternative medicine (CAM). DESIGN: A questionnaire regarding CAM practices and beliefs was administered to participants on paper or online. SETTING: An academic rehabilitation hospital. PARTICIPANTS: Ninety-six individuals voluntarily participated in the study. Participants included 28 patients with SCI, 36 F&F SCI, and 32 HCP. INTERVENTIONS: Not applicable Outcome Measures: The questionnaire assessed participants' prior or current use of 14 CAM modalities, their willingness to use CAM in the future or recommend its use, and their beliefs and opinions of CAM. RESULTS: Participants with SCI and their family and friends, were more likely than HCP to have used CAM (P ≤ 0.01 and P ≤ 0.03, respectively) and recommend its use (P ≤ 0.04 and P ≤ 0.03, respectively). All three groups showed statistical significance in their willingness to ever use certain CAM modalities (P ≤ 0.03 for SCI, P ≤ 0.04 for F&F SCI, and P ≤ 0.02 for HCP). SCI, F&F SCI, and HCP groups had similar beliefs and opinions regarding CAM. CONCLUSION: Patients with SCI as well as their friends and family, have significantly more experience with CAM and are more likely to recommend its use than HCP, suggesting that they are interested and find benefit in alternative healthcare. This warrants further investigation of the integration of CAM into general health practices for those with SCI.