Occupation-based practice in hand therapy - perspectives from a South African occupational therapy survey

Area of Science:

• Occupational Therapy
• Hand Therapy
• Rehabilitation Science

Background:

• Hand injuries significantly impact daily activities and participation.
• Current hand therapy often prioritizes physical impairments over occupational engagement.
• Occupation-based practice (OBP) shows promise for improving patient outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding OBP among South African occupational therapists treating hand conditions.
• To identify barriers and facilitators to OBP implementation in hand therapy settings.

Main Methods:

• A quantitative, cross-sectional study was conducted.
• Data were collected from South African occupational therapists via an emailed survey.
• Descriptive statistical analysis was used to analyze the data.

Main Results:

• A 62% response rate was achieved with 67 participants meeting inclusion criteria.
• Most therapists worked in the private sector and held postgraduate qualifications.
• Positive attitudes towards OBP were reported, but knowledge acquisition was hindered by lack of evidence access and preference for biomedical literature.
• Practice predominantly focused on performance components, aiming to reduce impairment rather than promote occupational engagement.
• Barriers included contextual, patient-related, and therapist-related factors.

Conclusions:

• Hand therapy in South Africa is largely biomechanically focused, diverging from core occupational therapy principles.
• OBP should be more routinely integrated into South African hand therapy practice.
• Addressing identified barriers is crucial for successful OBP adoption.