Joana Bernardo Loureiro, Rosa Martins, Ana Francisca Melo, Daniel Ferreira, Emanuel Caramelo, Inês Pereira, Nélia Carvalho, Ricardo Loureiro
The available evidence on digital nursing interventions for individuals with SCI is limited and heterogeneous. The three included studies reported favorable changes in selected rehabilitation and self-management outcomes; however, their methodological limitations and restricted geographical scope preclude definitive conclusions regarding effectiveness or routine implementation. These findings should be interpreted as exploratory, and further rigorous, multicenter, and geographically diverse studies are required.
INTRODUCTION: Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a major global health challenge associated with significant physical, psychosocial, and economic consequences. Digital health technologies have increasingly been integrated into nursing care to support rehabilitation, improve autonomy, and enhance quality of life in individuals with SCI. This integrative review aimed to analyze the impact of nursing interventions using digital technologies in people with SCI.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: An integrative literature review was conducted following the framework of Whittemore and Knafl and reported according to PRISMA 2020 guidelines. A systematic search was performed in MEDLINE (via PubMed), SciELO, and Google Scholar for studies published between 2014 and 2024. Inclusion criteria comprised original empirical studies involving nursing interventions supported by digital technologies in individuals with SCI. Data extraction and analysis focused on intervention characteristics, outcomes, and levels of evidence.
RESULTS: A total of 351 records were identified, and three studies met the inclusion criteria. The studies evaluated multimedia educational resources, telehealth interventions, and a WeChat-based nursing platform. Reported outcomes included improvements in self-perception, functional independence, self-care, health-promoting behaviors, and family functioning. However, the evidence was limited by small sample sizes, heterogeneous methodologies, and short follow-up periods.
CONCLUSIONS: The available evidence on digital nursing interventions for individuals with SCI is limited and heterogeneous. The three included studies reported favorable changes in selected rehabilitation and self-management outcomes; however, their methodological limitations and restricted geographical scope preclude definitive conclusions regarding effectiveness or routine implementation. These findings should be interpreted as exploratory, and further rigorous, multicenter, and geographically diverse studies are required.