Theory Does Not Get You From Bed to Wheelchair. A Qualitative Study on Patients' Views of an Education Program in Spinal Cord Injury Rehabilitation.

Purpose:The aim of this study was to evaluate a new nurse-guided patient education program in spinal cord injury rehabilitationwith particular focus on the patients’perspectives and experiences.

Design:Longitudinal qualitative study

Methods:We conducted face-to-face interviews with 10 rehabilitation patients and used the content analysis method to analyzethe data.

Findings:Patients emphasized the importance of the practical training of the education program. This impacted their well-being as well as their autonomy. They rated discussions with primary nurses and peers about physical or psychological concerns. How-ever, after discharge, the learning process was ongoing, and patients experienced the transition to living at home as amajor challenge.

Conclusions and Clinical Relevance:This research provides valuable information from the patients’perspective for enhancing spi-nal cord injury patient education. Situational learning, based on the practical parts of patient education and working with peers,is highlighted.