Splinting design and fabrication in physical disabilities

Area of Science:

• Occupational therapy
• Medical education
• Rehabilitation medicine

Background:

• A need for enhanced splinting education was identified for occupational therapists and students.
• Occupational therapists require consistent competency for weekend and holiday patient care.
• Multiservice splinting requests in a teaching hospital necessitate specialized training.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the development and implementation of a targeted splinting education program.
• To address the need for consistent and competent splinting practices.
• To improve the quality of care for patients requiring splinting interventions.

Main Methods:

• A quarterly in-service education program was designed and implemented.
• The program focused on splinting techniques for various medical and surgical conditions.
• Program effectiveness was evaluated based on therapist performance and feedback.

Main Results:

• The inservice program successfully enhanced therapist knowledge and skills in splinting.
• Improved consistency in fulfilling splinting requests across different hospital services was observed.
• Positive feedback from participants indicated the program's value.

Conclusions:

• Structured, ongoing education is crucial for maintaining occupational therapy splinting competency.
• In-service programs can effectively bridge educational gaps and improve patient care.
• This model provides a framework for similar training initiatives in other healthcare settings.