Parents Appreciate Streamlined Care From Occupational Therapists for Their Child's Simple Hand Fracture: A...

Introduction: Most pediatric hand fractures are treated nonoperatively, yet the majority of these children are managed by plastic surgeons. Our institution developed a protocol, deemed the Simple Fracture Protocol (SFP), which streamlines pediatric hand fracture care by redirecting patients with simple fractures to occupational therapists for management. This qualitative study evaluated parental satisfaction with the SFP. Methods: A semistructured telephone interview was administered to parents of children with hand fractures treated under the SFP between March 1, 2024, and May 31, 2024. Interviews were audio recorded, anonymized, and transcribed. Interviews were completed until data saturation was reached. Inductive content analysis was performed and reviewed by the research team to confirm key themes. Results: Of the 78 families contacted, 40 parents participated in the study. Parents reported high satisfaction with the care provided; 100% felt their care expectations were met. Four key themes were identified (1) communicating clearly, (2) creating a calm and comfortable environment, (3) setting expectations, and (4) streamlining clinical processes. Most patients, 67.5%, recovered within the expected 6 weeks. Delays in healing were often due to early return to sports or nonadherence to recovery guidelines. Conclusions: The SFP has been well-received by parents. Adjustments in the care instructions provided to patients partaking in high contact sports may further enhance the patient/family experience. This model offers a valuable framework for other institutions seeking to optimize pediatric fracture care.