Date of Award
2024
Document Type
Scholarly Project
Degree Name
Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD)
Department
Occupational Therapy
First Advisor
Jane Loscheider
Abstract
Purpose: Following upper extremity injuries, negative psychosocial factors such as anxiety, stress, post-traumatic stress disorder, and depression are found to be prevalent (Hardison et al., 2021; Maddison et al., 2023). Negative psychosocial symptoms such as these can negatively affect recovery outcomes and quality of life for individuals (Kinsley et al., 2020; Sposato et al., 2018). Typical treatment received in hand therapy for individuals with upper extremity injuries consists primarily of physical remediation through a biomedical frame of reference and less on addressing psychosocial factors (Chown et al., 2018; Kurrus et al., 2022; Robinson et al., 2016). Certified hand therapists report a lack of priority, time restraints, unavailable or unfamiliar assessments, fear of negative client response, and perceiving psychosocial interventions as outside their scope of practice as reasons for the disparity (Chown et al., 2018; Kurrus et al., 2022). This project was completed to help equip occupational therapy practitioners to effectively address psychosocial factors within their practice to support outcomes and quality of life for individuals recovering from upper extremity injuries.
Method: A needs assessment was conducted including a literature review, skilled observation, and collaboration with a certified hand therapist to identify the need to address psychosocial factors in hand therapy. Current practices were analyzed and supports and barriers to addressing psychosocial factors were identified using the Person-Environment-Occupation Model (Law et al., 1996). Evidence-based psychosocial practices within occupational therapy were researched, trialed in a hand therapy setting, and organized for dissemination.
Results: A toolkit containing educational material, screens, and various interventions was created to support occupational therapy practitioners address psychosocial factors within a hand therapy practice.
Conclusions: The toolkit created has provided a resource for occupation therapy practitioners to utilize to better address psychosocial factors in hand therapy. Continued discussion and resources are needed to normalize addressing psychosocial factors in hand therapy settings.
Recommended Citation
Allard, Jace, "Addressing Psychosocial Factors In Upper Extremity Injuries To Improve Outcomes And Quality Of Life" (2024). Occupational Therapy Capstones. 648.
https://commons.und.edu/ot-grad/648