Characterizing the context of spinal cord injury-inclusive community-based organizations to build capacity for research partnerships: An environmental scan

CONTEXT: Spinal cord injury (SCI) community-based organizations (CBOs) have the potential to inform research so that findings are more relevant and applicable. To support SCI CBOs to meaningfully engage in research partnerships, an understanding of their context is needed.

OBJECTIVE: Identify and describe the context of Canadian and American SCI CBOs that offer programs and services to people with SCI.

METHODS: An environmental scan was conducted using an integrated knowledge translation approach. A list of Canadian and American SCI CBOs was created using community partners' networks and national-level nonprofit organization search engines. Data from CBOs' websites on programs and services, mission/vision statements, commitments to inclusion, diversity, equity, accessibility, and social justice (IDEAS), financial information, and research/research partnership activities were extracted and analyzed abductively.

RESULTS: Two hundred two SCI CBOs were identified. CBOs were described using 34 co-developed categories: organizational statements (n = 8), IDEAS commitments (n = 10), and programs/services offered (n = 16). Revenue and expenses varied greatly across SCI CBOs. Study recruitment advertisements, knowledge translation tools, and research-informed articles were how websites discussed research. Descriptions of engagement in research partnerships varied.

CONCLUSION: This environmental scan was used to identify, collate, and describe contextual factors of SCI CBOs from non-peer-reviewed sources, representing an initial characterization of SCI CBO context, grounded in SCI CBO representatives' perspectives. This initial characterization can support researchers, research users, and funders to build capacity for the meaningful engagement of SCI CBOs in research partnerships, such as informing the design of research projects and grants that align with organizational values and account for financial constraints.