Graduation Year

2023

Document Type

Capstone

Degree Type

Open Access Capstone

Degree Name

Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD)

Department

Occupational Therapy

Abstract

Executive Summary

Background: The delivery of client education is an intervention that has a substantial influence on healthcare outcomes. However, the significance of preoperative education for outpatient hand treatments remains inadequately supported by research. Occupational therapists possess the necessary skills and knowledge to effectively address the issue of health literacy and make valuable contributions toward the promotion of health equity. The existing research fails to provide adequate evidence to support the claim that preoperative education is important for outpatient hand procedures. It is important to promote the adoption of best practices and enhance clients' health literacy regarding hand surgery to achieve the essential goal of ensuring that clients have adequate health literacy regarding hand surgery.

Purpose: This Capstone study aimed to assess the perspectives of clients on the perceived benefit of a preoperative educational session focusing on the postoperative recovery following carpometacarpal arthroplasty (CMC) surgery. The study addressed two questions. 1) Do clients perceive themselves as well prepared for CMC arthroplasty surgery and understand how long it will take to return to normal activities? 2) What are perspectives of clients regarding an occupational therapy consultation pre-operatively focusing on enhancing comprehension of post-operative treatment?

Theoretical Framework. The Person-Environment-Occupation-Performance, PEOP, model provided the researcher the framework to identify client frustrations that may have accompanied limited hand function following carpometacarpal arthroplasty surgery and how improved preparation would help to overcome some of the barriers and decrease client concerns.

Methods. The study utilized a quantitative survey methodology to collect data on client perceptions of the perceived benefits of enhanced preoperative education, using descriptive statistics for analysis. The application of this methodology enabled the investigation of participants’ opinions within the Facebook Group, CMC- joint arthritis suffers United, utilizing a representative subset of the group.

Results. Out of the total sample size of twenty-five participants, a majority of 72% indicated either strong agreement or somewhat agreement about their understanding of the recovery process prior to undergoing CMC arthroplasty. While more than half of the participants had a solid understanding prior to the procedure, 33% of them later expressed a lack of understanding regarding the duration required to resume routine activities after the procedure. A substantial majority of the participants, (88%), indicated a high level of agreement or somewhat agreement on the possible advantages of a therapist-led educational session in improving understanding of the surgical procedure and subsequent recovery, consequently emphasizing the importance of strengthening health literacy regarding CMC arthroplasty.

Conclusion: While clients may initially perceive themselves as having a comprehensive understanding of CMC arthroplasty and the recovery process, they may still have unanswered questions concerning the slow return of routine activities. Occupational therapists have the responsibility of facilitating individuals' preparedness for occupational performance, encompassing an obligation to adequately prepare clients before and following hand surgery.

Faculty Mentor

Shirley O'Brien, Ph.D., OTR/L, FAOTA

Department Affiliation

Occupational Therapy

Committee Member

Cindy Hayden, DHEd., OTR/L, CHT

Department Affiliation

Occupational Therapy

Committee Member

Donna Colaianni PhD, OTR/L, CHT

Department Affiliation

Occupational Therapy

IRB Approval Number (if applicable)

#5534

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