title: Surviving uncertainty and projecting recovery: a qualitative study of patients' and family members' experiences with acute spinal cord injury.
abstract: The purpose of this grounded theory study (Glaser & Strauss, 1967) was to explore, identify, and describe patients' and family members' experiences during the acute phase of spinal cord injury (SCI). The study sample consisted of 14 patients with acute spinal cord injury and 11 associated family members. Data sources included: unstructured interviews, participant observation, document analysis, and field notes. Level I (substantive), Level II (categorical), and Level III (theoretical constructs) codes were developed during data analysis. The substantive grounded theory generated in this study described how patients and family members defined and managed physiological and psychological uncertainty of acute SCI by mobilizing family resources and projecting recovery in the sociocultural context of the acute hospital environment.
authors.affiliation: University of Pennsylvania Health System, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sullivan
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D001294:Attitude to Health; D003625:Data Collection; D005190:Family; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000145:classification / Q000523:psychology*