Table 1 Demographic details of interview participants and status at interview
Pseudonym | Injury level | Age group at injury (years) | Aetiology | Respiratory/ communication status | Time since injury (months) | No. of ICUs prior to SIU admission (months) | Carer present Y/N |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Margaret | C5 | 60–69 | Fall (H) | V, T, SV | 7 | 2 (5) | N |
Roger | C2 | 60–69 | Fall (L) | V, T, no speech | 22 | 2 (16) | Y |
Arthur | C6 | 70–79 | Fall (L) | Normal | 27 | 3 (8)b | Y |
Keith | C4 | 70–79 | Fall (L) | T, SV | 8 | 2 (6) | Y |
Paula | C4 | 20–29 | Sports injury (H) | Aphonia | 6 | 3 (2) | N |
Simon | C4 | 30–39 | Spinal tumour | T, SV | 18 | 3 (14) | Y |
Ryan | C7, T3 | 20–29 | Sports injury (H) | Dysarthria | 6 | 2 (3) | Y |
George | C2/Central cord syndrome | 70–79 | Fall (L) | T, SV | 5 | 2 (2) | Y |
Thomasa | Don’t know | 70–79 | Fall (L) | Normal | 12 | 1 (2) | N |