Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40586680›Full record

ArticleThe journal of spinal cord medicine2026

Perspectives of veterans with spinal cord injuries and disorders and their providers on impacted healthcare during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Lance Washington, Marinella Galea, Steven Knezevic, B Jenny Kiratli, Ona Bloom, Jennifer Sippel, Ann M Spungen, Doug Ota, Andrea K Finlay

Abstract read
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in The journal of spinal cord medicine, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors.

Lance WashingtonCenter for Innovation to Implementation (Ci2i), Virginia Palo Alto Health Care System, Menlo Park, California, USA.ORCID 0000-0002-2185-1977
Marinella GaleaJames J. Peters VA Medical Center, Bronx, New York, USA.ORCID 0000-0002-4211-6170
Steven KnezevicJames J. Peters VA Medical Center, Bronx, New York, USA.ORCID 0000-0003-3809-0294
B Jenny KiratliSpinal Cord Injury and Disorders Center, Virginia Palo Alto Health Care System, Palo Alto, California, USA.ORCID 0000-0003-3737-3487
Ona BloomJames J. Peters VA Medical Center, Bronx, New York, USA.ORCID 0000-0002-8340-2392
Jennifer SippelSpinal Cord Injuries and Disorders National Program Office, Veterans Health Administration, Washington, DC, USA.ORCID 0000-0001-6549-4847
Ann M SpungenJames J. Peters VA Medical Center, Bronx, New York, USA.ORCID 0000-0003-2242-2119
Doug OtaSpinal Cord Injury and Disorders Center, Virginia Palo Alto Health Care System, Palo Alto, California, USA.ORCID 0000-0002-4438-0282
Andrea K FinlayCenter for Innovation to Implementation (Ci2i), Virginia Palo Alto Health Care System, Menlo Park, California, USA.ORCID 0000-0003-1284-7092

Funding

HSRD VA I01 HX003569
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectiveVeterans with spinal cord injuries and disorders (SCI/D) reported experiencing challenges from disrupted and deferred health services during the COVID-19 pandemic, including disrupted care coordination, supply chain, and essential services, such as wheelchair repair. This study used qualitative methods to examine the perspectives of Veterans with SCI/D (VSCI/D) and SCI/D healthcare providers on how the COVID-19 pandemic impacted health services. DESIGN/SETTING/

participantsVirtual focus groups were conducted with both VSCI/D who received care at the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) and VHA SCI/D providers who provided services for VSCI/D between March 2020 and March 2022. OUTCOME MEASURES: Topics assessed COVID-19 pandemic experiences including healthcare access and needs, Veteran and provider perspectives of Veterans' experiences during the pandemic, Veterans' coping strategies, and future emergency preparedness strategies.

resultsThere were 11 Veterans and 11 providers who participated in focus groups. Five themes were identified: (1) challenges with healthcare, care coordination, and homecare; (2) supply chain issues; (3) adapting to virtual platforms for support and therapy; (4) communication and reliable information about COVID-19; and (5) challenges with isolation and limited independence.

conclusionThis study highlights challenges VSCI/D faced during the COVID-19 pandemic. Recommendations to enhance VHA support for VSCI/D during future emergencies include strengthening home care support, system level changes to supply management to be more flexible, and interdisciplinary town halls to transparently share comprehensive information. Virtual peer support groups may address challenges with isolation and limited independence.

Indexed as

COVID-19Health PersonnelHealth Services AccessibilitySpinal Cord DiseasesSpinal Cord InjuriesVeteransAdultFemaleFocus GroupsHumansMaleMiddle AgedQualitative ResearchUnited StatesUnited States Department of Veterans AffairsCOVID-19Focus groupsSpinal cord injuryVeteransVeterans administration

Identifiers

PMID40586680
PMCPMC12704333

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.