CONTRIBUTIONS OF GROUP LEARNING IN THE REHABILITATION OF SPINAL CORD INJURED ADULTS.
Contributors: Northern Illinois University.
Published: 1991
Number of pages: 124
Subjects: Education, Adult and Continuing.; Health Sciences, Nursing.; Health Sciences, Rehabilitation and Therapy.
Description: This study investigated the contribution of group learning to the rehabilitation of spinal cord injured adults. Group learning has been identified by adult educators as a method that enhances adult learning. However, when a spinal cord injured person is admitted to a general rehabilitation unit in a general hospital, there is usually no one else with a similar injury, so no group learning can occur. There has been an increase in the establishment of general rehabilitation units in general hospitals due to the increase in the elderly population who tend to have more chronic illnesses and disabilities.

This ex post facto study involved both quantitative and qualitative methods. The views of the spinal cord injured, their families, and professional nurses involved in spinal cord injury rehabilitation were compared. A telephone questionnaire that measured attitude towards group learning and also gathered demographic data was administered to 60 spinal cord injured adults in Northern Illinois. Data analysis indicated a range of positive attitudes for all subjects, and a weak correlation of high positive attitudes with the under 35 age group and quadraplegics.

Personal interviews were then conducted with eight spinal cord injured, six family members, and eight rehabilitation nurses in order to compare perceptions about the effects of group learning. All three subject groups stated that having contact with other spinal cord injured people is an important factor to assist in adjustment to the injury. Positive attitudes towards group learning in spinal cord injury rehabilitation were communicated by all. All three subject groups identified motivation, sharing of experiences, comraderie and support from peers, and knowing they were not alone, as advantages of group learning.
Notes: Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 52-08, Section: A, page: 2790.

Thesis (ED.D.)--NORTHERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY, 1991.

School code: 0162.