Health promotion, wellness, and prevention in hand therapy: A survey study

Study Design: Descriptive study. Introduction: Noncommunicable diseases including diabetes and cardiovascular disease are associated with increased complications and cost of health care. Purpose of the Study: To describe beliefs and extent to which hand therapists include health promotion, wellness, and prevention (HPWP) in practice and to elucidate barriers to the incorporation of HPWP. Methods: A 38-question survey evaluating hand therapists' beliefs, practice of HPWP, and barriers was sent to American Society of Hand Therapists members. Results: About 270 American Society of Hand Therapists members participated. Respondents believed they had a role in HPWP, including occupational (95%), physical (92%), emotional (87%), and psychological (84%) factors and instrumental activities of daily living management (98%). Physical activity is most frequently addressed (42%), whereas other health behaviors are rarely addressed. Time, patient interest, and resources were among identified barriers. Discussion: The importance of health promotion and disease prevention practice is being recognized as critical to successful health outcomes. Conclusion: The study results suggest the need to develop HPWP educational programming for hand therapists and the need to consider expansion of understanding of HPWP initiatives and subsequent benefits to patients. (C) 2016 Hanley & Belfus, an imprint of Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.