Objective

To evaluate the effects on hand function, activity limitations, and self‐rated health of a primary care hand osteoarthritis (OA) group intervention. Hand OA causes pain, impaired mobility, and reduced grip force, which cause activity limitations. OA group interventions in primary care settings are sparsely reported.

Methods

Sixty‐four individuals with hand OA agreed to participate; 15 were excluded due to not fulfilling the inclusion criteria. The 49 remaining (90% female) participated in an OA group intervention at a primary care unit with education, paraffin wax bath, and hand exercise over a 6‐week period. Data were collected at baseline, end of intervention, and after 1 year. Instruments used were the Grip Ability Test (GAT), the Signals of Functional Impairment (SOFI), dynamometry (grip force), hand pain at rest using a visual analog scale (VAS), the Patient‐Specific Functional Scale (PSFS), the Quick Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand (Quick‐DASH), and the EuroQol VAS (EQ VAS). Data were analyzed using nonparametric statistics.

Results

Hand function, activity limitation, and self‐rated health significantly improved from baseline to end of intervention, grip force (right hand: P < 0.001; left hand: P = 0.008), SOFI (P = 0.011), GAT (P < 0.001), hand pain at rest (P < 0.001), PSFS (1: P = 0.008, 2: P < 0.001, and 3: P = 0.004), Quick‐DASH (P = 0.001), and EQ VAS (P = 0.039), and the effects were sustained after 1 year.

Conclusion

The hand OA group intervention in primary care improves hand function, activity limitation, and self‐rated health. The benefits are sustained 1 year after completion of the intervention.