Date of Award

2017

Document Type

Scholarly Project

Degree Name

Master of Occupational Therapy (MOT)

Department

Occupational Therapy

First Advisor

Mandy Meyer

Keywords

Adaptation, Psychological; Hand Injuries -- complications; Hand Injuries -- psychology; Hand Injuries -- rehabilitation; Occupational Therapy -- methods

Abstract

Purpose: Adaptation to psychosocial aspects of hand injury is often undervalued, yet a critical issue to address in traumatic hand injuries (Schier & Chan, 2007). The purpose of this scholarly project was to develop a guide to address such factors in a hand therapy setting.

Methodology: A review of the literature was conducted to demonstrate the importance of hands, psychosocial implications related to hand trauma, and current strategies used by practitioners to address these problem. Findings of the literature review concluded that the most prevalent psychological factors related to hand injuries include mood and trauma disorder symptomatology, problems related to role identity, work and financial stress, issues related to social interactions and relationships, stigma, pain, and dysfunctions in sleep. Authors used the Canadian Model of Occupational Performance and Engagement (CMOP-E) to guide the creation and intended use of this product to assist therapists in addressing psychosocial factors related to hand trauma.

Results: The findings of the literature review were used to develop a guide that aid therapists in evaluating and treating psychological factors commonly related to hand injury that could have consequences on a client’s overall wellbeing and function. The first portion of the product includes a self-assessment evaluation tool that gives the client an opportunity to evaluate in which ways the hand trauma has affected functioning and overall wellbeing on a psychosocial level. The second half of the product includes intervention ideas that correlate with the psychosocial implications that were previously self-assessed by the client to give therapists ideas of how to address these factors.

Conclusions: The identification and intervention of psychological implications will assist in successful adjustment and recovery across many consequences of sustaining a traumatic hand injury (Smurr et al., 2008). Despite the significance of hands in day-to-day function, many therapists are criticized for addressing the physical dysfunction of the hand exclusively and disregarding psychosocial implications (Bates & Mason, 2014). The authors created a product that will aid therapists in evaluating and treating psychological factors commonly related to hand injury that could have consequences on a client’s overall wellbeing and function.

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