title: Self-management of musculoskeletal hand pain and hand problems in community-dwelling adults aged 50 years and older: results from a cross-sectional study in a UK population.
abstract: Musculoskeletal pain is common in adults, with the hand being frequently affected. Healthcare services have the potential to be of benefit to adults with hand pain and problems, through promotion and facilitation of self-management.
  
  
  
  This paper explores existing self-management in a UK population of community-dwelling adults aged 50 years and over using data from surveys and a nested clinical cohort study. Self-management of hand problems was considered in three ways: self-directed treatment approaches used, adaptation behaviours adopted and choice to consult with a healthcare professional.
  
  
  
  The treatment approaches most commonly used were 'exercise/movement' (n = 151, 69 %) and 'resting' the hands (n = 139, 69 %). The use of adaptation behaviour was widespread: 217 (99 %) people reported using one or more adaptation behaviours. Under half of survey respondents who reported hand pain (n = 783, 43 %) had consulted a healthcare professional about their problem during the last year: the lowest rate of consultation was for occupational therapy (n = 60, 3 %).
  
  
  
  Self-directed treatment and adaptation behaviours were widespread in adults aged 50 years and over with hand problems, but consultation with a healthcare professional was low.
authors.affiliation: Arthritis Research UK Primary Care Centre, Institute for Primary Care and Health Sciences, Keele University, Keele, Staffordshire, ST5 5BG, UK. h.l.myers@keele.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Helen
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-4004-6615
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Myers
authors.affiliation: Arthritis Research UK Primary Care Centre, Institute for Primary Care and Health Sciences, Keele University, Keele, Staffordshire, ST5 5BG, UK.
authors.forename: Krysia
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Dziedzic
authors.affiliation: Arthritis Research UK Primary Care Centre, Institute for Primary Care and Health Sciences, Keele University, Keele, Staffordshire, ST5 5BG, UK.
authors.forename: Elaine
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Nicholls
authors.affiliation: Arthritis Research UK Primary Care Centre, Institute for Primary Care and Health Sciences, Keele University, Keele, Staffordshire, ST5 5BG, UK.
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Croft
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000368:Aged; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006225:Hand / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D057187:Independent Living; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D059352:Musculoskeletal Pain / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D009788:Occupational Therapy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012017:Referral and Consultation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012648:Self Care / Q000379:methods*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D006113:United Kingdom
keywords: Musculoskeletal hand pain; Primary care; Self-management