Youtube as an on-line disability self-management tool in persons with spinal cord injury

Abstract

On-line knowledge sharing of disability self-management offers a learning advantage in that it can be individualized to on-line community members' needs. It also promotes accessibility by removing the geographic, transportation, financial, time, and distance barriers that often accompany face-to-face, patient-oriented education. A consumer-focused training project conducted at the Rehabilitation Research and Training Center on Spinal Cord Injury aims to promote self-management skills in persons with SCI in the areas of skin care, cardiometabolic risk reduction, and obesity prevention. The training framework incorporates a YouTube-based, shared video social network that connects participants with community-based resources necessary to achieve independence, stability, and community integration. The purpose of this article is to describe a preliminary analysis of SCI-specific educational videos posted to the YouTube Web site. It is anticipated that findings from the project will enable individuals with SCI to self-manage health and function more independently in their daily lives. © 2011 Thomas Land Publishers, Inc.