Management of dominant upper extremity injuries: a survey of practice patterns.
METHODS
Internet survey.


OBJECTIVE
To describe current practice patterns in hand therapy to 1) gain insights into beliefs of certified hand therapists (CHTs) related to initiating a hand dominance transfer, 2) describe CHTs' clinical decision-making strategies, and 3) describe research priorities related to hand dominance transfer in hand therapy.


METHODS
Five hundred sixty-three members of the American Society of Hand Therapists.


METHODS
The online Internet survey contained 30 questions related to four categories: 1) demographics of clinicians, 2) beliefs about hand dominance transfer, 3) clinical strategies and decision making, and 4) a research agenda related to hand dominance transfer. Data were sorted, compiled, and analyzed descriptively.


RESULTS
Respondents were primarily occupational therapists working as full-time staff therapists treating between nine and 15 patients per day with orthopedic injuries to the dominant upper extremity caused by trauma. The overwhelming majority of respondents (92.7%) believed that motivation is a factor in the success of the hand dominance transfer. Most respondents (83%) do not directly initiate a hand dominance transfer. The number one reason (64%) for not initiating a dominance transfer is that CHTs believe that their patients will regain full recovery of injured hand over time. If a transfer is initiated, the number one task addressed is handwriting (62%); the most commonly recommended piece of adaptive equipment was the handsfree can opener (63.8%); 72% educate on the risk of overuse injury to the noninjured (intact) limb. Most respondents agreed or strongly agreed that more research needs to be done related to hand dominance transfer, specifically related to return to work rates, interventions using virtual reality, and assessments using neuroimaging technologies.


METHODS
3b.
U.S. Army Medical Specialist Corps, Military Performance Division, United States Army Institute of Environmental Medicine, Natick, Massachusetts, USA. kathleen.yancosek@us.army.mil
Kathleen E
KE
Yancosek
D000222:Adaptation, Physiological; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003657:Decision Making; D007839:Functional Laterality; D006801:Humans; D009788:Occupational Therapy; D026761:Physical Therapy Specialty; D012106:Research; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States; D034941:Upper Extremity / Q000293:injuries*