RecruitingNot Applicable

Enhancing Rehabilitation Participation in Patients With SCI/D Using Motivational Interviewing

United States180 participantsStarted 2025-11-01

Plain-language summary

The purpose of this multi-site clinical trial is to see whether people with spinal cord injury or disorder (SCI/D) demonstrate higher level of participation in rehabilitation sessions and other outcomes when their therapists are trained in a counseling style called motivational interviewing. We want to answer the following questions: 1. Do inpatients with SCI/D treated by physical therapists (PTs) and occupational therapists (OTs) who receive MI training and coaching demonstrate greater therapy participation compared to those treated by therapists who do not receive MI training and coaching? 2. Do inpatients with SCI/D treated by PTs and OTs who receive MI training and coaching demonstrate greater functional improvement at discharge from inpatient rehabilitation and greater community integration at 6 months after discharge compared to those treated by therapists who do not receive MI training and coaching? 3. What are the potential moderators and mediators of the effect of training and coaching on MI skills on therapy participation? Researchers will compare patient participation level and other outcomes of inpatients with SCI/D treated by PTs and OTs who receive MI training and coaching with those treated by therapists who do not receive MI training and coaching. Therapist participants will: 1. Audio record 2 therapy sessions per week with each enrolled SCI patient participant 2. Half of the therapists will attend a 16-hour training on MI skills and 2 practice therapy session Patient participants will: 1. Consent to audio recording of their therapy sessions 2. Complete one brief survey near the time of their discharge and another survey 6 months later

Who can participate

Age range

18 Years

Sex

ALL

See this in plain English?

AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.

Therapist Inclusion Criteria: * Inpatient therapist specializing in spinal cord injury patients for at least 3 months; * Practicing at the designated SCI inpatient units at Shirley Ryan AbilityLab, Baylor Scott \& White Institute for Rehabilitation and University of Washington-Harborview Medical Center; * Willing to audio record conversations during regularly-scheduled rehabilitation therapy sessions with patients; * Willing and able to participate in 16 hours of MI training; and * Willing to receive feedback on MI skills. Therapist Exclusion Criteria: * Inability to speak and understand English * Inpatient therapist specializing in spinal cord injury patients for less than 3 months; and * Unwilling or unable to follow the study protocol Patient Inclusion Criteria: * Adults (18+) * Presence of a traumatic or non-traumatic spinal cord injury * Inpatient in the spinal cord injury unit of the three study sites * Has a physical or occupational therapist who is a participant in the study Patient Exclusion Criteria: * Inability to speak and understand English * Cognitive deficits * Unwilling to allow for therapy sessions to be recorded

Questions worth asking your doctor

Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.

1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?

Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.

Questions for the trial coordinator

The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.

1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?

A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.

What they're measuring

Therapy Participation Level

Timeframe: From enrollment to the end of 4-week treatment

Trial details

NCT IDNCT07364773

SponsorShirley Ryan AbilityLab

Sponsor typeOTHER

Study typeINTERVENTIONAL

Primary completion2027-04-20

View on ClinicalTrials.gov More Spinal Cord Injuries (SCI) trials