The impact of the COVID-19 virus and pandemic on healthcare utilization, access, delivery, experiences, and outcomes in the spinal cord injuries/dysfunction population: A scoping review study

This study reviewed existing research on how the COVID-19 pandemic affected healthcare for adults with spinal cord injuries or dysfunction (SCI/D). It looked at changes in healthcare access, how care was delivered, and patient experiences and outcomes. The review found that the pandemic generally had a negative impact on healthcare access and outcomes for people with SCI/D. Virtual care became more common and was generally well-received, but it couldn't replace all in-person care. More research is needed to understand the long-term effects of the pandemic on this population, especially regarding specific health outcomes and the effectiveness of different care approaches.

• 1
  The pandemic negatively impacted healthcare utilization, access, and outcomes for individuals with SCI/D, although no studies quantified these changes.
• 2
  Virtual care was generally well-received by the SCI/D population as a way to maintain continuity of care.
• 3
  The SCI/D population faced challenges in maintaining caregiving support during the pandemic.