Modifiable Sociostructural and Environmental Factors That Impact the Health and Quality of Life of People With Spinal Cord Injury: A Scoping Review.

Objective: The objective of this scoping review was to identify the modifiable factors that impact the health and quality of life (QOL) of community-dwelling people with spinal cord injury (SCI).

Methods: Empirical journal articles were identified using three academic databases: CINAHL Complete, MEDLINE with Full Text, and PsycINFO. Full-text journal articlesincluded studies of participants who were community-dwelling with traumatic or nontraumatic SCI and were over the age of 18 years without cognitive impairment; published between 2000 and 2021; focused on modifiable factors impacting health and QOL; and conducted inAustralia, Europe, orNorth America. A data table was used to extract article information including authors, year of publication, country, sample, design and methods, purpose/objectives, and main findings. Qualitative data analysis software was used to categorize major findings inductively through content analysis.

Results: Thirty-one peer-reviewed articles consisting of qualitive, quantitative, and mixed-methods study design were included. This scoping review revealed modifiable factors that impact the health and QOL of community-dwelling people with SCI: sociostructural factors (social attitudes, health care access, information access, and funding and policies) and environmental factors (built environment, housing, transportation, assistive technology, and natural environment).

Conclusion: Future research should examine the influence of the modifiable factors on health and QOL using qualitative inquiry, adopting a community-based participatory research approach, and considering the implications of individual characteristics and resources.