Perceptions of Hand Surgery Patients About Occupational Therapy.

Purpose: Occupational therapists provide holistic health care and social care and seek to promote health through occupation. This study measured how hand surgery patients who received referrals for occupational therapy perceive occupational therapy and occupational therapists. Methods: A cross-sectional online survey was designed to determine the meaning of an occupation, the role of occupational therapists, the services and benefits provided by occupational therapists, the populations served, and the work settings of occupational therapists. Results: This study included 634 patients who responded to the survey (three-fourths were women). Most participants were uncertain about the professional environment of occupational therapists. Approximately one-third of the respondents believed that occupational therapists work at general hospitals. Most participants believed that occupational therapists manage orthopedic conditions and hand injuries; however, the least participants believed that occupational therapists manage cases involving cardiorespiratory conditions. No significant correlation was noted between the participants' overall awareness of occupational therapy and their sex or age. However, a notable statistical relationship was found between the comprehensive knowledge of occupational therapy and the educational level of the participants. Conclusions: To receive the benefits of occupational therapy, it is necessary for the population to be aware of those benefits. Clinical relevance: Patient perspectives of occupational therapy can help in patient's education and their treatment plan.

Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices Regarding Electrical Burns.

Burn prevention programs can effectively reduce morbidity and mortality rates. In this article, we present the findings of our investigation of the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of the Saudi Arabian population regarding electrical burns. Our study was a cross-sectional online survey that used a five-part questionnaire to assess the participant's demographic information, knowledge of electrical burns, attitudes toward electrical injuries, and practices related to electrical burns and their prevention. Overall, 2314 individuals responded to the survey (males: 41.2%; females: 58.8%). A total of 839 participants (36%) had a personal or family history of electrical burns. Approximately ≥90% of the responses to questions on electrical burn-related knowledge were correct; relatively less responses to questions on the extent of tissue damage from electrical burns and arcs were correct (74% and 29%, respectively). Only 54% of the respondents knew that applying first aid to the burn-affected areas at home could lead to a better outcome; 27% and 19% did not know the correct answer and thought that this would not lead to a better outcome, respectively. The most common source of information was school or college (38.9%), followed by social media (20.8%) and internet websites (16.3%). Enhancing community awareness and practices related to electrical burns is a cost-effective and straightforward strategy to prevent the morbidity and mortality associated with electrical injuries.

Perception of Shame in the Plastic Surgery Field.

Doctors and postgraduate students, especially those in the surgical field, face a highly stressful environment and are exposed to various emotions that have been studied, but the concept of shame-based learning (SBL) is still undergoing investigation, especially in the field of plastic surgery. SBL is a teaching method in which an instructor instills a sense of shame in the student, which may cause depression, anxiety, aggression, and poor job performance, leading to burnout, mental health illness, substance abuse, and suicide. Methods: From March to May 2022, two cross-sectional electronic surveys were conducted for residents and consultants in Saudi Arabia, respectively, which used a validated questionnaire to assess SBL. Results: Among the 70 responses received (29 residents and 41 consultants), 75.9% of the residents and 80.5% of the consultants were shamed. For residents, a wrong answer was the most common trigger for shame (44.8%), and the operating room was the most common place for it (51.7%). Losing self-confidence was the most common result of shaming (37.9%) and (41.4%) dealt with it by keeping it to themselves. Although 27.6% of residents stated that they had no negative effect, 20.7% stated that they were motivated. There are consultants who practice shaming directly or indirectly (65.9%), while some agreed that it is not necessary (80.5%). Conclusions: Although both groups agreed that SBL is unnecessary for the field and will not be practiced in the future, most residents and consultants experienced shame. The negative impact of SBL has several effects on the trainer, the teaching environment, and patient care.