Publications by authors named "Sherri LaVela"
Purpose: To evaluate the psychometric properties of performance and patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) for custom ankle-foot orthosis (AFOs) users.
Materials And Methods: Current AFO users completed two assessments one week apart; new AFO users completed an assessment before device delivery and at one- and two-months post-delivery.
Results: Seventy current and 31 new users consented and provided data.
Context: Available diabetes risk calculators were developed for able-bodied individuals, but their metabolic profile is different from individuals with spinal cord injury.
Objectives: We aimed to develop a diabetes risk assessment tool specific to individuals with spinal cord injury.
Methods: We used national Veterans Affairs data to identify patients with at least a 2-year history of spinal cord injury and no prior history of diabetes with a Veterans Heath Affairs visit from 2005-2007, and followed the 11,054 individuals that met inclusion criteria for up to 17 years to assess diabetes development.
Article Synopsis
- The study aimed to identify tools for measuring diet and nutrition knowledge in adults with spinal cord injuries and disorders (SCI/D) by reviewing literature from 1992-2022.
- Out of 48 articles reviewed, only five were relevant, revealing a lack of validated nutrition knowledge questionnaires specifically for individuals with SCI/D; most studies focused on either athletes or those with acute injuries.
- The findings highlight a need for a validated questionnaire that addresses the unique nutritional needs of the SCI/D population, as current tools mostly provide general nutrition knowledge without considering specific conditions.
Article Synopsis
- The study explores the health impacts of poor diet on individuals with spinal cord injuries and disorders (SCI/D) by conducting in-depth interviews with healthcare providers.
- Key findings highlight seven major health consequences linked to inadequate nutrition, including weight gain, cardiometabolic issues, bowel dysfunction, and poor mental health.
- The authors recommend increasing awareness among SCI/D patients regarding these risks and the need for tailored nutrition interventions to address these health issues.
Article Synopsis
- Anti-obesity medications (AOMs) are being considered for managing obesity in individuals with spinal cord injury and disease (SCI/D), but there's limited understanding of their use in this population.
- Healthcare providers (HCPs) identified four main barriers to AOM use: concerning side effects in SCI/D patients, promotion of poor eating habits, issues with availability and administration, and insufficient evidence or knowledge regarding AOM effectiveness for this group.
- Despite recognizing these barriers and the risks associated with AOMs for SCI/D patients, HCPs expressed a desire for more information to better support their patients.
Objective: To assess contemporaneous and temporal dynamics of perceived social isolation (PSI), secondary conditions, and daily activity patterns in individuals post-stroke.
Design: Longitudinal observational study using ecological momentary assessment (EMA) as a real-time assessment of an individual's lived experiences. We conducted dynamic network analyses to examine longitudinal associations among EMA variables.
Purpose/objective: Nutrition knowledge, beliefs, and behaviors have important implications for managing and preventing chronic and injury-related secondary conditions in persons with spinal cord injuries and disorders (SCI/D). Yet, the unique dietary and nutritional needs and recommendations specific to individuals with SCI/D and their eating beliefs and behaviors have been understudied. Aim is to describe nutrition and eating beliefs and behaviors from the perspectives of individuals with SCI/D.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFContext/objective: Examine demographics, injury characteristics, objective measures of social isolation and health factors that are associated with perceived social isolation (PSI) among Veterans with spinal cord injury and disorders (SCI/D).
Design: Cross-sectional survey.
Setting: The Veterans Health Administrations (VHA) SCI/D system of care.
Objective: To identify variables independently associated with moderate to high loneliness in individuals living with Spinal Cord Injuries or Disorders (SCI/D).
Design: A cross-sectional, national survey of a random sample of community-dwelling Veterans with SCI/D in the United States. Survey methodology was used to collect data on demographic and injury characteristics, general health, chronic and SCI-secondary conditions, and loneliness.
Purpose/objective: Individuals with spinal cord injuries and disorders (SCI/D) are at increased risk for experiencing loneliness and social isolation. The aim is to describe facilitators identified by individuals living with SCI/D to alleviate loneliness and perceived social isolation.
Research Method/design: Descriptive qualitative design using in-depth interviews with veterans with SCI/D ( = 23).
Introduction: Obesity is a significant health concern for veterans and individuals with spinal cord injury, yet screening for overweight/obesity can be challenging. This study examines how healthcare providers screen for overweight/obesity and the challenges encountered in identifying overweight/obesity in veterans and persons with spinal cord injury.
Materials And Methods: Healthcare providers who provide care for persons with spinal cord injury completed a semi-structured interview.
Study Design: Delphi Technique.
Objectives: Describe the development of a decision support tool to prevent community-acquired pressure injuries (CAPrIs) in individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI) for use in SCI clinics, called the Community-Acquired Pressure Injury Prevention-Field Implementation Tool (CAPP-FIT).
Setting: Veteran Health Administration Hospital, Chicago, Illinois, USA.
Importance: Informal caregivers have valuable insights that occupational therapists can use to prevent and manage problems that may arise in people with spinal cord injury (SCI) because of a lack of physical activity and poor nutrition.
Objective: To assess caregiver-identified facilitators of weight management in people with SCI.
Design: Descriptive qualitative design using semistructured interviews and thematic analysis.
Background: The prevalence of obesity and comorbidities is high in the population with spinal cord injury (SCI). We sought to determine the effect of SCI on the functional form of the relationship between body mass index (BMI) and risk of developing nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), and assess whether SCI-specific mapping of BMI to risk of developing NAFLD is needed.
Methods: Longitudinal cohort study comparing Veterans Health Administration patients with a diagnosis of SCI to a 1:2 matched control group without SCI.
Purpose: We sought to describe factors influencing reduced rates of obesity screening for patients with spinal cord injury (SCI) in the United States Veterans Health Administration (VA) and to foster potential solutions.
Materials And Methods: Semi-structured interviews with healthcare providers and patients with SCI who were recruited nationally from diverse VAs. We performed rapid qualitative analysis using content analysis of interview data.
Context/objective: Excess weight has the potential to carry a substantial physical and emotional burden. A better understanding of perceived consequences of excess weight may facilitate the development of patient-centered programs and interventions to promote weight management efforts in persons with spinal cord injury (SCI). The study objective was to describe consequences of excess weight from the personal perspectives of individuals with SCI.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIntroduction: Perceived social isolation and loneliness are understudied in individuals with spinal cord injuries and disorders (SCI/D). The few existing studies reported that they are common, yet poorly treated, in persons with SCI/D. We developed an intervention called Caring Connections (CC) aimed at reducing loneliness and perceived social isolation in persons with SCI/D.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFArticle Synopsis
- The study investigates how the COVID-19 pandemic affected individuals living with spinal cord injuries (SCI), focusing on their experiences and challenges.
- It utilized in-depth interviews with 33 participants to identify key themes regarding changes in healthcare access, lifestyle behaviors, and psychosocial well-being during the pandemic.
- Findings revealed significant disruptions in medical care, declines in physical activity and healthy eating, and heightened feelings of isolation and emotional distress, suggesting important considerations for future healthcare responses.
Background: Spinal cord injury (SCI) healthcare providers are aware of the harmful consequences of overweight/obesity in persons with SCI, but many are unaware of available information and lack training to guide weight management care in the SCI population.
Objective: Describe the development and content of an educational curriculum for healthcare providers to help individuals with SCI prevent or manage overweight/obesity.
Methods: The biopsychoecological framework guided curriculum planning, data collection, and product development.
Article Synopsis
- The objective of the study was to understand health care providers' views on effective strategies for helping individuals with spinal cord injuries cope with grief and loss related to their injuries.
- The research included semistructured interviews with 15 experienced health professionals who identified eight key strategies for supporting individuals with SCI, emphasizing the importance of communication, empathy, and overall holistic care.
- The study concludes that regular screenings for grief, coordinated care, support services, and educational resources are essential for effective grief management in patients with SCI, providing a framework for health providers in this area.
Article Synopsis
- Individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI) are at an increased risk for obesity, yet 37.9% of patients in the US Veterans Health Administration (VHA) did not receive the standard annual obesity screening based on BMI guidelines in Fiscal Year 2019.
- A study analyzed factors affecting this screening, finding that older age and fewer outpatient visits significantly predict lack of annual BMI assessments, while factors like sex, race, and injury level did not show a strong correlation.
- There is significant variability in screening rates across VHA facilities, indicating a need for improved intervention strategies to address the gaps in obesity screening among SCI patients.
Article Synopsis
- * Participants included 25 individuals (11 Veterans and 14 civilians) with paraplegia, revealing that healthy eating is linked to food types, portion sizes, mindful eating, and health enhancement, while they seek information on tailored diets and easy-to-prepare meals.
- * Insights into physical activity highlighted themes of exercise types, the importance of staying active, and the distinct experiences of those with SCI, with a demand for effective cardiovascular workouts that accommodate wheelchair use to help manage weight.
Article Synopsis
- The study investigates how informal caregivers are impacted by the weight management of individuals with spinal cord injuries (SCI) through interviews with 24 caregivers.
- Key themes from the analysis reveal that caregivers experience both emotional and physical challenges, but can also gain motivation and improved well-being from the care recipient's weight management efforts.
- The findings suggest that rehabilitation providers should educate caregivers and care recipients about the effects of weight management, highlighting both burdens and benefits, to promote better health outcomes for both parties.
Health providers often focus on secondary conditions and spend less time prioritising overweight/obesity care. Informal caregivers are well positioned to facilitate health-promoting behaviours of healthy eating and physical activity among community-dwelling care recipients with spinal cord injury (SCI) for prevention and management of overweight/obesity. Literature has typically focused on caregiver adjustment post-injury and burden related to their roles in secondary condition care.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Literature shows that large proportions of people with a spinal cord injury (SCI) continue to experience challenges and limitations in weight management (WM) efforts in the health care setting. Despite the need, evidence-based research on effective and practical WM practices for persons with SCI is inconsistent and not widely used by health care providers (HCPs).
Objective: The objectives were twofold: (1) to explore HCP perspectives of the extent of the problem of overweight/obesity in individuals with SCI and (2) HCPs awareness of and beliefs about availability of literature or evidence-based guidelines that discuss WM in SCI.