Hand Assessment for Elderly People in the Community

Area of Science:

• Geriatric Medicine
• Rheumatology
• Public Health

Background:

• Hand conditions are a significant health concern among the elderly population.
• Common hand conditions include osteoarthritis, trigger finger, and carpal tunnel syndrome.
• Prevalence studies are crucial for understanding the burden of these conditions in community settings.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the prevalence of common hand conditions in elderly individuals residing in a community.
• To specifically assess osteoarthritis of the hand, trigger finger, and carpal tunnel syndrome.
• To evaluate the impact of hand conditions on functional status in the elderly.

Main Methods:

• Community-based recruitment of elderly participants.
• Data collection encompassing demographics, clinical data, and the Quick Disability, Arm, Shoulder, and Hand (QuickDASH) questionnaire.
• Clinical assessment for the presence of specific hand conditions.

Main Results:

• A prevalence of 30.8% for hand conditions was observed in the study cohort (n=17).
• Hand conditions were significantly more common in females (39%) compared to males (7%).
• Individuals with hand conditions reported higher QuickDASH scores, indicating greater functional disability.

Conclusions:

• Elderly individuals often delay seeking medical attention for hand conditions until they are advanced.
• Nurses are well-positioned to conduct community-based hand assessments and provide education.
• Interventions should focus on early detection, symptom education, treatment information, and adaptive strategies to maintain function.