ABSTRACT
STUDY DESIGN: Prospective cohort. INTRODUCTION: Successful nonoperative treatment of mallet finger injuries requires compliance to prolonged immobilization and understandable educational materials. PURPOSE OF THE STUDY: This study evaluated the use of written and online video education tools after mallet finger injury. METHODS: After ethics board approval and informed consent, adults with an acute mallet finger injury referred to hand therapy were included. Standard nonoperative treatment was instituted with orthotic immobilization and verbal instructions, in addition to an education pamphlet and an online video link. A questionnaire regarding the educational materials was administered at the follow-up appointment. RESULTS: There were 61 patients (mean age, 42 ± 14 years). The middle (n = 21) and ring (n = 22) fingers were most commonly injured. All patients were fluent in English. Written instructions (n = 57) were used by more patients than the videos (n = 30). Comparing patients who viewed the video with those who did not, there were no differences (P > .05) in demographics (sex, age, education, work status, and second language). Both written and video instructions were reported as helpful; mean helpful score for the video was significantly (P = .03) higher than written instructions. Most patients preferred having written and video instructions, and both were easy to understand and convenient. DISCUSSION: In our study of patients with acute mallet finger injuries, written and video instructions were utilized and both were reported as helpful. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides evidence of the usefulness of online videos as an educational aid and the opportunity for future investigations to improve patient access to education materials.
Subject(s)
Finger Injuries/rehabilitation , Hand Deformities, Acquired/rehabilitation , Internet , Pamphlets , Patient Education as Topic/methods , Adult , Cohort Studies , Female , Humans , Immobilization , Male , Orthotic Devices , Patient PreferenceABSTRACT
Ensuring that distal interphalangeal joint extension is maintained is an important but challenging part of the treatment process. These authors describe a simple approach to ensuring distal interphalangeal joint extension for these patients. - VictoriaPriganc, PhD, OTR, CHT, CLT, Practice Forum Editor.
Subject(s)
Equipment Design/methods , Finger Injuries/rehabilitation , Finger Joint/physiopathology , Splints , Finger Injuries/diagnosis , HumansABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: No studies investigate work-related injuries experienced by Canadian occupational therapists. PURPOSE: To identify the nature and prevalence of work-related injuries, impact of practice context, cultural and structural factors that influence response to these injuries, and strategies used to manage return-to-work after injury. METHODS: Members of the Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists were sent an electronic survey in June 2009. FINDINGS: Over half of the 600 respondents reported at least one injury episode. Patient-handling and equipment-related incidents accounted for the largest proportion of injuries. Almost one-third of respondents reported being threatened at work or experiencing workplace violence. IMPLICATIONS: Injured occupational therapists tended to minimize the extent and impact of their injuries by underreporting incidents and continuing to work after injury. These behaviours may contribute to a failure to recognize the reality of work-related injuries in occupational therapy practice and thereby limit the development of profession-specific, risk-minimization strategies.
