Clinical Research Directory
Browse clinical research sites, groups, and studies.
Occupational Therapy-led Services for Adults Presenting Acutely With a Hand Condition
Sponsor: University of Limerick
Summary
Traumatic hand injuries account for up to one third of acute hospital presentations. Current guidelines and standards of care recommend patients with hand trauma are seen by hand therapists, typically occupational therapists. The proposed study aims to explore the effectiveness of occupational therapy-led hand therapy services for the adult population presenting acutely to an injury unit or emergency department setting with a hand condition. The research project will consist of an analytical study, involving four different sites in Ireland to enrich findings, and to aid future service development. One site will be the comparison site, as it does not have access to occupational therapy, and will offer patients 'care as usual' upon attendance. Outcome measures will be used for all participants and will be completed at initial patient contact, at week eight and at six months. It is hoped the current proposed study will help shape future service development for those with hand injury including provision of evidence based occupational therapy assessment and intervention.
Official title: An Evidenced Based Analytical Study of Occupational Therapy-led Services for Adults Presenting Acutely With a Hand Condition
Key Details
Gender
All
Age Range
18 Years - Any
Study Type
OBSERVATIONAL
Enrollment
150
Start Date
2024-01-11
Completion Date
2025-11
Last Updated
2025-10-01
Healthy Volunteers
No
Conditions
Interventions
Occupational Therapy-led Hand Therapy Service
Types of interventions provided by the therapist will include splinting, targeted exercises and activities, occupation-based intervention, edema management, scar management; desensitisation, functional tasks completion, and education. All interventions provided are within occupational therapists' scope of practice and are evidence based. Number of treatment sessions will be individualised to the patient and guided by stages of recovery.
Care as usual
Care as usual group: Participants attending an emergency department of injury unit, do not have access to occupational therapy services and will undergo 'care as usual' in line with the services\' protocols and procedures. Care as usual involves standard nursing and medical care and may include: wound care, use of 'off the shelf' orthosis, education, and onward referral to other healthcare professionals.
Locations (5)
Beaumont Hospital
Dublin, Ireland
Tallaght University Hospital
Dublin, Ireland
Galway University Hospital
Galway, Ireland
Ennis General Hospital - ULHG
Limerick, Ireland
Nenagh General Hospital ULHG
Tipperary, Ireland