Facilitators and Barriers to International Collaboration in Spinal Cord Injury: Results from a Survey of Clinicians and Researchers

Vanessa K Noonan; Elaine Chan; Kent Bassett-Spiers; David J Berlowitz; Fin Biering-Sørensen; Susan Charlifue; Marnie Graco; Keith C Hayes; Jane Horsewell; Phalgun Joshi; Debora Markelis; Verna Smith; Zeina Waheed; Douglas J Brown

doi:10.1089/neu.2017.5036

Facilitators and Barriers to International Collaboration in Spinal Cord Injury: Results from a Survey of Clinicians and Researchers

Vanessa K Noonan, Elaine Chan, Kent Bassett-Spiers, David J Berlowitz, Fin Biering-Sørensen, Susan Charlifue, Marnie Graco, Keith C Hayes, Jane Horsewell, Phalgun Joshi, Debora Markelis, Verna Smith, Zeina Waheed, Douglas J Brown

Department of Clinical Medicine

9 Citations (Scopus)

31 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

International collaboration in spinal cord injury (SCI) research is necessary to overcome the challenges often encountered by clinicians and researchers, including participant recruitment, high cost, and the need for specialized expertise. However, international collaboration poses its own obstacles. The objective of this study was to conduct an international online survey to assess barriers and facilitators to international SCI clinical research, potential initiatives to facilitate future collaborations, and the use of SCI-specific data sets and standards. Results were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Of 364 total respondents, 213 completed the survey, with the majority of these participants based in North America (38%), Asia (22%), Europe (18%), and Oceania (16%). Over half had more than 10 years of experience in SCI research or clinical practice (57%) and 60% had previous experience with international collaborations. Funding was identified as a top barrier (82%), a facilitator (93%), and a proposed future initiative (97%). Communication and technology were also identified as strong facilitators and proposed future initiatives. The International Standards for Neurological Classification of SCI were used by 69% of participants, the International Standards to document remaining Autonomic Function after SCI by 13% of participants, and the International SCI Data Sets by 45% of participants. As the need for international collaborations in SCI research increases, it is important to identify how clinicians and researchers can be supported by SCI consumer and professional organizations, funders, and networks. Furthermore, unique solutions to overcome modifiable barriers and creation of new facilitators are also needed.

Original language	English
Journal	Journal of Neurotrauma
Volume	35
Issue number	3
Pages (from-to)	478-485
Number of pages	8
ISSN	0897-7151
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1089/neu.2017.5036
Publication status	Published - 1 Feb 2018

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Facilitators and Barriers to International Collaboration in Spinal Cord Injury: Results from a Survey of Clinicians and ResearchersFinal published version, 615 KBLicence: CC BY

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Noonan, V. K., Chan, E., Bassett-Spiers, K., Berlowitz, D. J., Biering-Sørensen, F., Charlifue, S., Graco, M., Hayes, K. C., Horsewell, J., Joshi, P., Markelis, D., Smith, V., Waheed, Z., & Brown, D. J. (2018). Facilitators and Barriers to International Collaboration in Spinal Cord Injury: Results from a Survey of Clinicians and Researchers. Journal of Neurotrauma, 35(3), 478-485. https://doi.org/10.1089/neu.2017.5036

Noonan, VK, Chan, E, Bassett-Spiers, K, Berlowitz, DJ, Biering-Sørensen, F, Charlifue, S, Graco, M, Hayes, KC, Horsewell, J, Joshi, P, Markelis, D, Smith, V, Waheed, Z & Brown, DJ 2018, 'Facilitators and Barriers to International Collaboration in Spinal Cord Injury: Results from a Survey of Clinicians and Researchers', Journal of Neurotrauma, vol. 35, no. 3, pp. 478-485. https://doi.org/10.1089/neu.2017.5036

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abstract = "International collaboration in spinal cord injury (SCI) research is necessary to overcome the challenges often encountered by clinicians and researchers, including participant recruitment, high cost, and the need for specialized expertise. However, international collaboration poses its own obstacles. The objective of this study was to conduct an international online survey to assess barriers and facilitators to international SCI clinical research, potential initiatives to facilitate future collaborations, and the use of SCI-specific data sets and standards. Results were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Of 364 total respondents, 213 completed the survey, with the majority of these participants based in North America (38%), Asia (22%), Europe (18%), and Oceania (16%). Over half had more than 10 years of experience in SCI research or clinical practice (57%) and 60% had previous experience with international collaborations. Funding was identified as a top barrier (82%), a facilitator (93%), and a proposed future initiative (97%). Communication and technology were also identified as strong facilitators and proposed future initiatives. The International Standards for Neurological Classification of SCI were used by 69% of participants, the International Standards to document remaining Autonomic Function after SCI by 13% of participants, and the International SCI Data Sets by 45% of participants. As the need for international collaborations in SCI research increases, it is important to identify how clinicians and researchers can be supported by SCI consumer and professional organizations, funders, and networks. Furthermore, unique solutions to overcome modifiable barriers and creation of new facilitators are also needed.",

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AU - Charlifue, Susan

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Facilitators and Barriers to International Collaboration in Spinal Cord Injury: Results from a Survey of Clinicians and Researchers

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