Accessing Peers’ and Health Care Experts’ Wisdom: A Telephone Peer Support Program for Women with SCI Living in Rural and Remote Areas

Abstract

The unique needs of women with a spinal cord injury are not well understood, resulting in inadequate services. The Telephone Peer Support Group Program provided seven women with SCI living in rural and remote areas in Ontario with access to peer support and experts' knowledge. Participants were decision makers in all phases of the program. The phenomenological research method was used to capture the essence of their experiences. Two primary structures of experience emerged: emotional support and learning. Participants gave and received emotional, affirmational, and informational support, which resulted in different levels of reported change and transformation. The participatory approach contributed to participants' satisfaction.