Understanding Stakeholder Priorities in Dupuytren Disease: A Qualitative Study

Area of Science:

• Hand surgery
• Orthopedics
• Rehabilitation medicine

Background:

• No standardized outcomes or reporting guidelines exist for Dupuytren disease treatment studies.
• This study addresses the need for patient-centered outcomes in Dupuytren contracture research.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify the most important issues for patients with Dupuytren disease.
• To understand the priorities of hand surgeons, occupational therapists, and physical therapists involved in Dupuytren disease care.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative, interpretive description study design.
• Semi-structured, one-on-one interviews conducted with 10 surgeons, 12 therapists, and 10 patients.
• Exploration of stakeholder perspectives on Dupuytren disease treatment and recovery.

Main Results:

• Stakeholder priorities for Dupuytren disease treatment varied significantly.
• Surgeons focused on range of motion, recovery time, and recurrence.
• Therapists and patients emphasized range of motion, daily activities, sensation, and pain.

Conclusions:

• Identified high-priority outcomes for patients, surgeons, and therapists in Dupuytren disease.
• Results provide a foundation for developing a core outcome set for Dupuytren contracture.
• A standardized approach to reporting outcomes will improve treatment study consistency.