Date of Award

2024

Document Type

Scholarly Project

Degree Name

Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD)

Department

Occupational Therapy

First Advisor

Nicole Harris

Abstract

Purpose: In the community of healthcare professionals that work with individuals who have survived a burn injury there has been a shift in the way that range of motion (ROM) is being measured taking into consideration the use of cutaneous functional units (CFUs), multi joint movements, and burn scarring and contractures (Parry et al., 2019). Working with a burn intensive care unit therapy team a need was identified to address therapist education and the integration of revised positioning for measuring ROM following a burn injury and throughout the rehabilitation process.

Method: To determine the needs of the burn facility a needs assessment was completed through a comprehensive literature review. After observation of current practices, evaluation, and discussion with the therapy team, it was determined that a guide detailing information related to the importance of measuring ROM and with the use of CFUs was the best method for educating therapists. Collaboration with the therapy team was imperative in determining the information that was included in the guide.

Results: After the guide was created there was an educational meeting with the therapy team to discuss the information in the guide. The therapists utilized the positioning used for measuring ROM using CFUs with other therapists before implementing into patient care. Therapists are still working towards integration of the procedure and are continuing to provide feedback related to the useability of the guide.

Conclusions: The guide provides the information that therapists determined were beneficial for measuring ROM following a burn injury. It is expected that this information will be utilized to train therapists who are transitioning to working on the burn unit and serve as a resource guide for therapists working with burn survivors.

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