Background The use of simulated learning activities in occupational therapy education has emerged in the past decade. Studies describing experiences of using standardised patients in practical examination in occupational therapy is lacking. Objective To describe teachers and students experiences of a newly implemented practical examination in occupational therapy education using standardised patients. Material and methods A qualitative study using data from student questionnaires, a focus-group with five teachers, and teachers reflective diary notes. Data were analysed with problem-driven content analysis. Results Three categories were identified: The practical examination as a learning situation included a structured learning environment and scenarios with standardised patients with the right level of complexity. The teachers role was influenced by the educational approach applied to create equal conditions for all students, students thoughts about being assessed and the teachers emphasis of being well prepared. The examination was an opportunity for developing practical skills. The students valued being prepared for clinical practice and the teachers valued the examination as a bridge between theory and practice. Conclusion and significance A carefully planned practical examination can contribute to developing professional occupational therapy competences and is a tool for educators to replicate the authentic clinical settings students encounter in fieldwork.

Background: Persons with chronic pain experience a lack of support after completing rehabilitation and the responsibility for the return-to-work (RTW) process is taken over by the employer. In addition, employers describe not knowing how to support their employees. Smartphone apps have been increasingly used for self-management, but there is a lack of available eHealth apps with evidence-based content providing digital support for persons with chronic pain and their employers when they return to work.

Objective: This study aims to describe the development of a digital support application with evidence-based content that includes a biopsychosocial perspective on chronic pain for sustainable RTW for persons with chronic pain and their employers (SWEPPE [Sustainable Worker Digital Support for Persons With Chronic Pain and Their Employers]).

Methods: A user-centered agile design approach was applied. The multidisciplinary project team consisted of health care researchers, a user representative, and a software team. A total of 2 reference groups of 7 persons with chronic pain and 4 employers participated in the development process and usability testing. Mixed methods were used for data collection. The design was revised using feedback from the reference groups. The content of SWEPPE was developed based on existing evidence and input from the reference groups.

Results: The reference groups identified the following as important characteristics to include in SWEPPE: keeping users motivated, tracking health status and work situation, and following progress. SWEPPE was developed as a smartphone app for the persons with chronic pain and as a web application for their employers. SWEPPE consists of six modules: the action plan, daily self-rating, self-monitoring graphs, the coach, the library, and shared information with the employer. The employers found the following functions in SWEPPE to be the most useful: employees' goals related to RTW, barriers to RTW, support wanted from the employer, and the ability to follow employees' progress. The persons with chronic pain found the following functions in SWEPPE to be the most useful: setting a goal related to RTW, identifying barriers and strategies, and self-monitoring. Usability testing revealed that SWEPPE was safe, useful (ie, provided relevant information), logical, and easy to use with an appealing interface.

Conclusions: This study reports the development of a digital support application for persons with chronic pain and their employers. SWEPPE fulfilled the need of support after an interdisciplinary pain rehabilitation program with useful functions such as setting a goal related to RTW, identification of barriers and strategies for RTW, self-monitoring, and sharing information between the employee and the employer. The user-centered agile design approach contributed to creating SWEPPE as a relevant and easy-to-use eHealth intervention. Further studies are needed to examine the effectiveness of SWEPPE in a clinical setting.

Study Design: Qualitative descriptive. Introduction: Dupuytren's disease (DD) is a chronic hand condition causing impairment in hand function. Research describing persons' experiences of living with DD is limited. Understanding the subjective experience of illness is valuable for planning and implementing health-care services. Purpose of the Study: To explore experiences among men living with an impaired hand function due to DD and the consequences of the disease for daily activities. Methods: Interviews were conducted with 21 men before surgery. The model of the patient evaluation process guided data collection. Data were analyzed using problem-driven content analysis. Results: Participants described DD as a chronic disease caused by heredity, previous injury, hard work, or aging. DD was, according to the participants, an uncomfortable and sometimes painful condition, causing a feeling of constant stiffness in the affected hand. DD could cause participants to have fear of hurting the hand, feelings of shame or embarrassment, and a sense of being old. Participants handled the deteriorating hand function by avoiding or refraining from activities, adapting their performance, or performing activities with less quality. The ideal hand function was seen as being able to use the hands without effort. Discussion: The diverse experiences of DD and if the hand is experienced as something that causes distress can be understood further using body-self dialectic and Gadow's states of embodiment, as well as the process of adapting and learning to live with the functional limitations. Conclusions: A clinical implication for hand therapy is to acknowledge patients' individual experiences and support self-modifications and development of new skills.

Background: Dupuytren’s contracture is common among older people in Sweden. Previous studies comparing the treatment with an injection of collagenase with percutaneous needle fasciotomy found no differences. Methods: We retrospectively compared the degree of improvement in the deficit in extension of the joints in 2 groups of patients who had been treated with collagenase (71 fingers) or needle fasciotomy (109 fingers) before and 1 year after treatment. We compared the improvement of the extension deficit among the metacarpophalangeal (MCP) and proximal interphalangeal joints before and after the intervention; additionally, the level of improvement was classified into 3 levels (mild = 0° to 29°; moderate = 30° to 60°; considerable = 61° and more). Results: The degree of improvement of extension in the MCP joints was 11° greater in the collagenase group (P = 0.001). The number of patients who had an improvement of >60° (considerable) in extension was greater in the collagenase group (P = 0.02). Conclusion: Collagenase was more effective than needle fasciotomy in treating extension deficits of the MCP joints in Dupuytren’s contracture in this retrospective analysis. Further prospective studies are required to confirm the finding.

The role of hand therapy in the treatment of Dupuytren disease varies depending on the patient and the procedure. There is limited evidence for hand therapy as a preventive treatment of Dupuytren disease. Before corrective treatment, the hand therapist can contribute with assessments to promote evaluation of outcome. After corrective treatment, hand therapy is tailored to each patients needs and consists of orthoses, exercise, edema control, and pain or scar management. Orthoses are usually part of the hand therapy protocol after corrective procedures despite lack of strong supporting evidence and should be provided based on individual patient needs.

Background: Dupuytren’s Disease (DD) is a soft tissue disorder that leads to finger joint contractures affecting hand function. DD can be treated with surgery or injection and hand therapy to improve finger joint extension and thereby improve hand function. However, this does not cure the disease and recurrence is common. Previous research on DD has shown improvement in finger joint extension and in self-reported disability of the upper extremity after surgery and hand therapy for DD. However, this provides only a limited perspective on hand function, and multiple dimensions of changes in hand function (i.e. physical, psychosocial aspects and including the patients’ views of results) have not been reported as a whole.

Aim: The overall aim of the thesis was to explore hand function before and after surgery and hand therapy in patients with DD, including assessment, results and patients’ perspectives.

Methods: The thesis comprises three studies: Study A was a methodological study of interrater reliability in goniometry of the finger joints. Study B was a prospective cohort study with a repeated measures design. Study C was a qualitative interview study, using the model of Patient Evaluation Process and content analysis.

Results: Interrater reliability was high or very high for goniometer measurement of finger joint range of motion (ROM) in patients with DD when experienced raters follow our standardized guidelines developed for the study. Changes in hand function consisted of improvement of finger joint extension while active finger flexion was significantly impaired during the first year after surgery and hand therapy. No patient reached a normal ROM, but the majority reached a functional ROM. Sensibility remained unaffected. Patients with surgery on multiple fingers had worse scar pliability than patients with surgery on a single finger. Most patients had their expectations met and were pleased or delighted with their hand function at 12 months after surgery and hand therapy. Safety issues of hand function were of greater concern than social issues. Patients reported less disability and improved health-related quality of life after surgery and hand therapy. The three variables “need to take special precautions”, “avoid using the hand in social context”, and health-related quality of life had significant importance for patients’ rating of functional recovery. Together, these variables explained 62% of the variance in functional recovery. Patients’ perspectives of undergoing a surgical intervention process were described through five categories. Previous experiences of care influenced participants’ expectations of results and the care they were about to receive. Previous experiences and expectations were used as references for appraisal of results, which concerned perceived changes in hand function, the care process, competency, and organization. Appraisal of results could also vary in relation to  patient character. Appraisal of results of the intervention process influenced participants’ expectations of future hand function, health and care.

Conclusions: Surgery and hand therapy for DD improve hand function and patients regain a functional ROM needed for performance of common daily activities. Despite the negative effect on finger flexion present during the first year after surgery, patients’ regards their hand function as recovered six to eight months after surgery and hand therapy. Measuring digital ROM in the finger joints with a goniometer is a reliable assessment method. However, from the patient’s perspective, it is not enough to evaluate results only in terms of digital extension or ROM. From their view, results of treatment concern consequences on daily use of the hand, what happens during the care process in terms of interaction between patient and health care provider, as well as their view of the competence and logistics of the organization providing the care.

Purpose To explore patients’ perspectives on surgical intervention for Dupuytren’s disease (DD), focusing on patients’ appraisal of results, involving previous experiences, expectations and patient characters.

Method The participants were 21 men, mean age 66 years, scheduled for DD surgery. Qualitative interviews were conducted 2–4 weeks before surgery and 6–8 months after surgery. The model of the Patient Evaluation Process was used as theoretical framework. Data were analyzed using problem-driven content analysis.

Results Five categories are described: previous experiences, expectations before surgery, appraisal of results, expectations of the future and patient character. Previous experiences influenced participants’ expectations, and these were used along with other aspects as references for appraisal of results. Participants’ appraisal of results concerned perceived changes in hand function, care process, competency and organization, and could vary in relation to patient character. The appraisal of results influenced participants’ expectations of future hand function, health and care.

Conclusions Patients’ appraisal of results involved multidimensional reasoning reflecting on hand function, interaction with staff and organizational matters. Thus, it is not enough to evaluate results after DD surgery only by health outcomes as this provides only a limited perspective. Rather, evaluation of results should also cover process and structure aspects of care.

Implications for Rehabilitation

• To improve health care services, it is important to be aware of the role played by patient’s previous experiences, expectations as well as staff and organizational aspects of care.
• Knowledge about patients’ experience and view of the results from surgery and rehabilitation should be established by assessment of care effects on health as well as structure and process aspects of care.
• Evaluation of structure and process aspects of care can be done by using questions about if the patient felt listened to, received clear information and explanations, was included in decision-making, and their view of waiting time or continuity of care.
• Improving health care services means not only providing the best treatment method available but also developing individualized care by ensuring good interaction with the patient, providing accurate information, and working to improve the structure of the care process.
• Before treatment, health care providers should have a dialogue with the patient and consider previous experiences and expectations in order to ensure the patient has balanced expectations of the outcome.

Study design: Prospective cohort study. Introduction: The evidence of the relationship between functional recovery and impairment after surgery and hand therapy are inconsistent. Purpose of the study: To explore factors that were most related to functional recovery as measured by DASH in patients with Dupuytrens disease. Methods: Eighty-one patients undergoing surgery and hand therapy were consecutively recruited. Functional recovery was measured by the Disability of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH) questionnaire. Explanatory variables: range of motion of the finger joints, five questions regarding safety and social issues of hand function, and health-related quality of life (Euroqol). Results: The three variables "need to take special precautions", "avoid using the hand in social context", and health-related quality of life (EQ-5D index) explained 62.1% of the variance in DASH, where the first variable had the greatest relative effect. Discussion: Safety and social issues of hand function and quality of life had an evident association with functional recovery. Level of evidence: IV.

PURPOSE:

To describe changes in joint motion, sensibility, and scar pliability and to investigate the patients' expectations, self-reported recovery, and satisfaction with hand function, disability, and quality of life after surgery and hand therapy for Dupuytren disease.

METHODS:

This prospective cohort study collected measurements before surgery and 3, 6, and 12 months after surgery and hand therapy. Ninety patients with total active extension deficits of 60° or more from Dupuytren contracture were included. Outcomes measures were range of motion; sensibility; scar pliability; self-reported outcomes on expectations, recovery, and satisfaction with hand function; Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand scores; safety and social issues of hand function; physical activity habits; and quality of life with the Euroqol.

RESULTS:

The extension deficit decreased, and there was a transient decrease in active finger flexion during the first year after surgery. Sensibility remained unaffected. Generally, patients with surgery on multiple fingers had worse scar pliability. The majority of the patients had their expectations met, and at 6 months, 32% considered hand function as fully recovered, and 73% were satisfied with their hand function. Fear of hurting the hand and worry about not trusting the hand function were of greatest concern among safety and social issues. The Disability of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand score and the Euroqol improved over time.

CONCLUSIONS:

After surgery and hand therapy, disability decreased independent of single or multiple operated fingers. The total active finger extension improved enough for the patients to reach a functional range of motion despite an impairment of active finger flexion still present 12 months after treatment.

We investigated interrater reliability of range of motion (ROM) measurement in the finger joints of people with Dupuytrens disease. Eight raters measured flexion and extension of the three finger joints in one affected finger of each of 13 people with different levels of severity of Dupuytrens disease, giving 104 measures of joints and motions. Reliability measures, represented by intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), standard error of the mean (SEM), and differences between raters with the highest and lowest mean scores, were calculated. ICCs ranged from .832 to .973 depending on joint and motion. The SEM was andlt;= 3 degrees for all joints and motions. Differences in mean between highest and lowest raters were larger for flexion than for extension; the largest difference was in the distal interphalangeal joint. The results indicate that following these standardized guidelines, the interrater reliability of goniometer measurements is high for digital ROM in people with Dupuytrens disease.