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Survey RESULTS Results of the 2013 Readers’ Survey – What You Told Us… A fantastic response to our readers’ survey provides a goldmine of ideas about how to improve the content of the Spinal Network News We received an incredible response to our Spinal Network News readers’ survey which we sent out with the August 2013 issue, so a huge thank you to all those who took the time to send us your feedback. We now have a wealth of information to help us put together a magazine that truly reflects what you – the readers – want to see. Starting in 2014, we aim to include regular articles that address the areas you requested and suggested in the survey. We were very interested to know who is reading the SNN, and the majority of survey respondents are people living with a SCI (70%). One (31.8%) or two (50.9%) was the most common number of readers per household. We were also very interested in what people do with their copy of the SNN after they have read it and a massive 54.5% of respondents said they keep the SNN, with 20% lending it to others, and 19% disposing of it. In this last category, people also remarked that they gave their copy of the SNN away to doctors’ clinics, medical centres, and a volunteer-run library. We were also curious to know, in what format people preferred to receive the SNN; the most requested option – a whopping 76.9% – said they want a printed hardcopy. A total of 15.4% requested an electronic copy, and 7.7% selected both. We hope to explore options regarding accessing the SNN online next year. We’ll keep you posted. We were very interested to know what you thought about the stories/articles we have in the SNN, and whether you find them interesting and relevant. A total of 60.5% respondents said they always find them interesting and, another 37.6% said they were sometimes interesting. Only 1.8% reported that stories/articles were hardly ever interesting. In terms of their relevance, nearly 40% said they found them relevant all the time, 57% said they were relevant sometimes, and only 4.7% said they were never relevant. An important part of this survey was to find out what topics you, the readers, want to see in the SNN (respondents could list more than one thing). Almost 70% of respondents said that they would like to see more articles on health issues, 63.6% said they would like to see more stories on technology and, 49.1% more on travel issues. Also, 22.7% of readers would like Question 1 Please select a category that best describes you Question 2 On average, how many people in your household would read your copy of the SNN? I live with SCI 70% A partner of someone with SCI 3.6% A family member of someone with SCI 5.5% A carer of someone with SCI 0% A supporter of the NZST 13.6% Other 7.3% 1 31.8% 2 50.9% 3 10.0% 4 2.7% 5 1.8% More 2.7% 10
to see more sports articles and 20.9% wanted to see more music and art/s stories. Survey respondents also gave us lots of very valuable comments regarding the topics they want to see more of in the SNN. These include more articles on health issues related to having an SCI; more personal stories about how people with an SCI live and manage their daily lives in the community; practical travel advice; information about SCI research and employment/study; and, how to find a balance between being a partner and a carer. The following is a sample of some of the comments you gave us: • “…articles on chronic pain and spasms, more health related articles”; • “More about what’s happening in the medical and scientific areas concerning help for people with SCI”; • “How people are dealing with the workplace”; • “More stories for family members …how to create a balance between being a partner and a carer”; • “More stories about what high-level tetraplegics achieve in their life”; • “Perhaps more Internet links for disabled travel. Perhaps also, you could get readers to rate the disabled rooms in hotels they have used and build up a list of good ones!” As mentioned above, many respondents wanted more articles that explore the personal, lived experience of SCI and want to know how others manage their lives. Hearing how others do things and knowing that others face similar problems was important to respondents. Here are some more of the comments we received: • “ …going back to basics for people with an SCI… regardless of how long a person has had an SCI, it’s good to be reminded of the basic issues and the journey”; • “…there are few to no tips and suggestions of how to cope with everyday life: attitudes to life, etc.”; • “...biographies of others with an SCI and their new lives”; • “It’s always good to read and see how others manage their SCI. It has taken me 10 years and I am still finding new ways to manage things. Getting ideas from others is always good.” A further issue that we have been aware of for some time now, is the need for more nation-wide stories. The majority of the New Zealand Spinal Trust’s operations are based in Christchurch, which can lead to an imbalance: with more articles orientated towards this end of the country. Readers commented that: • “Interesting, but too many Ch-Ch items”; Question 3 After you read the SNN do you usually Question 4 Overall, do you find the stories in the SNN interesting Keep it 54.5% Lend it to others 20.0% Dispose of it 19.0% Other 6.4% Yes, all the time 60.5% Sometimes 37.6% No, hardly ever 1.8% 11
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Page 3 and 4: EDITORIAL Welcome to the third and
Page 5 and 6: EDITORIAL Welcome to the third and
Page 7 and 8: Allan Bean Centre Library Hours Mon
Page 9 and 10: Foundation. The work is now not far
Page 11: THANKS Bob Parker The recent Local
Page 15 and 16: All Functions, Without Hospital Loo
Page 17 and 18: areas. Then, issues such as wheelch
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Page 27: Thank you to our Funders & Sponsors

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