A preliminary study of acute family needs after spinal cord injury: Analysis and implications

Objective: To address the paucity of research on family needs following spinal cord injury (SCI). Study Design: Prospective cross-sectional design. Setting: Inpatient SCI rehabilitation unit within a Level I trauma center. Participants: Family members of 17 inpatients with SCI. Main Outcome Measure: Family Needs Questionnaire (FNQ). Results: Eighteen of the 40 FNQ needs were rated as important or very important by 100% of the respondents. Health Information Needs were rated as most important and Instrumental Support Needs as least important. Involvement With Care Needs were most often met, whereas Emotional Support Needs were most often unmet. Conclusions: The FNQ is a promising measure of family members' needs after SCI and treatment planning and program evaluation tool. Findings affirm that family education is important during rehabilitation.