Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 20, 2026
07:40
Validation of a Psychosocial Intervention on Body Image in Older People: An Experimental Design
Published on: May 31, 2021
HAND-Q: A global normative data sample of 1373 participants
Q H P W Janssen-Bouwmeester1, G J Halbesma1, D A Young-Afat2
1Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Catharina Hospital, Eindhoven, the Netherlands.
Summary
This study establishes the first global normative data for the HAND-Q (Hand- качестве жизни опросник) scales in healthy individuals. These reference values improve interpretation of hand health outcomes in clinical and research settings.
Area of Science:
- Orthopedics
- Rehabilitation Medicine
- Health Outcomes Research
Background:
- The HAND-Q (Hand-Q questionnaire) is a patient-reported outcome measure for hand conditions.
- Normative data from healthy populations are needed to enhance clinical and research interpretation of HAND-Q scores.
- Key HAND-Q scales include appearance, function, life impact, and symptoms.
Purpose of the Study:
- To establish normative values for the four most important HAND-Q scales in a global healthy population.
- To capture key physical and psychosocial aspects of hand health for reference.
Main Methods:
- A web-based, cross-sectional survey was conducted from August 1 to September 9, 2024.
- Healthy participants were recruited internationally via Prolific and convenience sampling.
- Exclusion criteria included individuals with hand conditions or trauma.
Main Results:
- 1373 participants from 44 countries were included.
- Age, smoking status, skin type, and occupational factors were significantly associated with HAND-Q scales.
- Former smokers showed improved function and life impact scores with time since cessation; no significant gender differences were found.
Conclusions:
- This study presents the first global normative data for HAND-Q scales in healthy individuals.
- These reference values improve the interpretability of HAND-Q scores.
- The findings support the use of HAND-Q in clinical and research settings for treatment planning and outcome evaluation.
Related Concept Videos
02:01Group Design
The most basic experimental design involves two groups: the experimental group and the control group. The two groups are designed to be the same except for one difference— experimental manipulation. The experimental group gets the experimental manipulation—that is, the treatment or variable being tested—and the control group does not. Since experimental manipulation is the only difference between the experimental and control groups, we can be sure that any differences between the two are due to...
02:16Surveys
Often, psychologists develop surveys as a means of gathering data. Surveys are lists of questions to be answered by research participants, and can be delivered as paper-and-pencil questionnaires, administered electronically, or conducted verbally. Generally, the survey itself can be completed in a short time, and the ease of administering a survey makes it easy to collect data from a large number of people.
01:26Longitudinal Studies
Longitudinal studies are also widely used in other medical and social science fields. For instance, in cardiovascular research, they can monitor patients' health over decades to identify risk factors for heart disease, such as high cholesterol or smoking, and evaluate the long-term effectiveness of preventive measures. Similarly, in mental health studies, researchers might follow individuals from adolescence into adulthood to understand the development and progression of conditions like...
01:50Cross-Sectional Research
In cross-sectional research, a researcher compares multiple segments of the population at the same time. If they were interested in people's dietary habits, the researcher might directly compare different groups of people by age. Instead of following a group of people for 20 years to see how their dietary habits changed from decade to decade, the researcher would study a group of 20-year-old individuals and compare them to a group of 30-year-old individuals and a group of 40-year-old...
01:07Data Collection by Survey
The systematic method of obtaining and analyzing accurate information of a population is called data collection. A survey is a standard method of data collection that involves collecting information from a target human population about their experience, opinion, or knowledge of a product, service, or process. The responses are recorded and interpreted. The most common survey examples are written questionnaires, face-to-face or telephonic conversations, focus groups, and electronic (e-mail or...
02:20Longitudinal Research
Sometimes we want to see how people change over time, as in studies of human development and lifespan. When we test the same group of individuals repeatedly over an extended period of time, we are conducting longitudinal research. Longitudinal research is a research design in which data-gathering is administered repeatedly over an extended period of time. For example, we may survey a group of individuals about their dietary habits at age 20, retest them a decade later at age 30, and then again...