ABSTRACT

Objective : The objective of this study was to determine the structure of suffering that patients with spinal cordinjury undergo. Methods : Conversations conducted once or twice over a two-month period, from October 1 to November 30, 2013were set up with 9 patients diagnosed with a cervical spinal cord injury. Data regarding the level of suffering thatparticipants experienced, from simple experiences to repetitive experiences, were collected from the participants. The data collection and analysis were conducted through a procedure based on Parse’s human becoming theory. Results : The suffering level of patients with a spinal cord injury was shown to range between a sense ofhumiliation owing to their physical disability, frustration in being unable to recover their body functions, and ahope to return to society after a process of resignation and acceptance. Conclusion : The purpose of this study is to understand the patients suffering from a spinal cord injury and to beused as a reference for occupational therapists to think about their role.