Living Longer and Stronger With Spinal Cord Injury (SCI)

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to develop a health promotion group intervention to meet the unique health promotion needs of people aging with SCI, to test the efficacy of the adapted intervention program, Living Longer and Stronger with SCI, in a randomized controlled trial and to assess the mechanisms through which the intervention may enhance physical, psychological, and social health.

Condition

  • Spinal Cord Injuries

Eligibility

Eligible Ages
Over 18 Years
Eligible Genders
All
Accepts Healthy Volunteers
Yes

Inclusion Criteria

  • traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI) - have traumatic SCI for at least 15 years OR be over the age of 45 - use a manual or power wheelchair for mobility at least some of the time - reside in the U.S. - speak and read English - access to a smart phone, tablet, or a computer with Internet access - have or be willing to obtain email for study correspondence

Exclusion Criteria

  • cognitive impairment that significantly limits their ability to give informed consent, participate in the intervention, or complete study assessments as determined by an inability to correctly answer questions demonstrating study comprehension - have a significant visual or hearing impairment that would prohibit their ability to participate in the interactive online intervention with accommodations - report active suicidality or significant problems with alcohol or other drug use - live in an institution

Study Design

Phase
N/A
Study Type
Interventional
Allocation
Randomized
Intervention Model
Parallel Assignment
Primary Purpose
Other
Masking
None (Open Label)

Arm Groups

ArmDescriptionAssigned Intervention
Experimental
Living Longer and Stronger (LLS) intervention
  • Behavioral: Living Longer and Stronger with SCI
    Study staff will schedule a brief zoom training session with each person assigned to the intervention to ensure that they are able to download and use the Zoom platform. Once a weekly session day and time has been determined the 8-week LLS intervention program will begin. LLS group participants will participate in 2-hour weekly sessions co-facilitated by a study investigator and one of the study's senior advisors. Participants will be encouraged to set a health-oriented goal and complete weekly action plans. They will be provided with materials each week with health-related information and resources. Participants will also be asked to complete a short survey each week to rate the session. After completing the 8 sessions, a link to the post-test survey and some questions to evaluate the LLS program will be sent to the participants. Finally there will be follow up survey to be completed at 4 months post intervention.
Active Comparator
Control Group
  • Behavioral: Control
    Participants will be sent links to the three surveys at the same time as those assigned to the LLS group but they will not attend any of the zoom calls. They will be offered all study materials at the end of the study.

Recruiting Locations

TIRR Memorial Hermann Spinal Cord Injury and Disability Research Center
Houston, Texas 77030
Contact:
Susan Robinson-Whelen, PhD
281-467-2349

More Details

Status
Recruiting
Sponsor
The University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston

Study Contact

Susan Robinson-Whelen, PhD
281-467-2349
Susan.Robinson-Whelen@memorialhermann.org