Usefulness of a hand therapy application.

Abstract

STUDY DESIGN\nCross-sectional cohort design that collected data by means of a survey.\n\n\nINTRODUCTION\nPerformance and adherence to a home exercise program (HEP) has been identified as an integral component of hand therapy rehabilitation. Understanding how patients learn along with offering creative options to improve engagement is important. Advancements in technology including the use of smart phone apps should be considered.\n\n\nPURPOSE OF STUDY\nTo determine if a hand therapy app is a useful method for patient education and home exercises for patients receiving hand therapy for an orthopedic injury distal to the shoulder.\n\n\nMETHOD\nIndividuals receiving hand therapy at an outpatient hand therapy clinic via a convenience sample (n\xa0=\xa041) were asked to download use The Hand Therapy Application for an individualized exercise program. The Mobile Application Rating Scale (MARS) questionnaire was used to assess the smart phone app.\n\n\nRESULTS\nThe overall MARS score for the hand therapy app was 3.5 out of 5. The MARS also gathered information on the app s engagement, functionality, aesthetics, and subjective quality of the app with mean scores of 3.6, 3.8, and 3.7, respectively. Data was also collected on the app s description accuracy, goals, quality and quantity of information, visual information, credibility, and evidence base.\n\n\nDISCUSSION\nParticipants receiving skilled hand therapy gave an overall rating of The Hand Therapy Application as above average for providing information about the participants condition and for HEP instruction.\n\n\nCONCLUSION\nThe findings of this study suggests that The Hand Therapy Application should be a consideration as a HEP tool in clinical practice.