1 Rick Hansen Institute , Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada .
2 Ontario Neurotrauma Foundation , Toronto, Ontario, Canada .
J Neurotrauma. 2018 Feb 1;35(3):478-485. doi: 10.1089/neu.2017.5036. Epub 2017 Oct 27.
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.
国际合作在脊髓损伤 (SCI) 研究中是必要的，以克服临床医生和研究人员经常面临的挑战，包括参与者招募、高成本和对专业知识的需求。然而，国际合作也存在自身的障碍。本研究的目的是进行一项国际在线调查，以评估国际 SCI 临床研究的障碍和促进因素、促进未来合作的潜在举措，以及 SCI 特定数据集和标准的使用。结果使用描述性统计进行分析。在总共 364 名受访者中，有 213 名完成了调查，其中大多数参与者来自北美（38%）、亚洲（22%）、欧洲（18%）和大洋洲（16%）。超过一半的人有超过 10 年的 SCI 研究或临床实践经验（57%），60%的人有国际合作经验。资金被确定为首要障碍（82%）、促进因素（93%）和未来的倡议（97%）。沟通和技术也被确定为强有力的促进因素和未来的倡议。国际 SCI 神经分类标准被 69%的参与者使用，国际 SCI 后自主功能残障标准被 13%的参与者使用，国际 SCI 数据集被 45%的参与者使用。随着 SCI 研究中国际合作的需求增加，了解如何通过 SCI 消费者和专业组织、资助者和网络来支持临床医生和研究人员是很重要的。此外，还需要找到克服可改变的障碍和创造新的促进因素的独特方法。
