Patient activation and disability in upper extremity illness

Area of Science:

• Orthopedics
• Rehabilitation Medicine
• Health Psychology

Background:

• Patient involvement in healthcare, or patient activation, is increasingly recognized as a factor influencing health outcomes.
• Understanding the relationship between patient activation and specific conditions like hand and upper extremity illness is crucial for targeted interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the correlation between patient activation and symptom burden and disability in patients with hand and upper extremity conditions.
• To identify factors that predict outcomes in patients undergoing treatment for upper extremity issues.

Main Methods:

• A cohort of 112 new patients with hand and upper extremity conditions completed validated questionnaires at baseline, including measures of patient activation, disability, and pain.
• Seventy-five patients completed follow-up assessments 1-2 months post-enrollment to evaluate changes in outcomes and treatment satisfaction.
• Statistical analyses were performed to determine correlations between baseline patient activation, pain self-efficacy, and subsequent symptoms and disability.

Main Results:

• Patient activation at enrollment showed a correlation with disability, pain intensity, and treatment satisfaction.
• Pain self-efficacy emerged as the most significant predictor, explaining variations in disability, pain, and treatment satisfaction.
• The association between patient activation and disability was not retained in multivariable analysis, but its independent influence on pain intensity was significant.

Conclusions:

• Effective coping strategies, such as pain self-efficacy, are consistently linked to reduced symptoms and disability in upper extremity conditions.
• Patient activation independently influences pain intensity, suggesting its importance in managing upper extremity health.
• Future interventions should focus on enhancing both self-efficacy and patient activation to improve outcomes for patients with hand and upper extremity illnesses.