Hand Osteoarthritis rehabilitation practices in South Africa: A pilot study

Background: Best-evidence recommendations guide the non-pharmacological management of patients diagnosed with hand osteoarthritis. The problem is that the current management approaches and whether the best evidence recommendations are incorporated by occupational therapists and physiotherapists in South Africa have not yet been investigated, potentially resulting in decreased quality of life, function, and pain. This pilot study aimed to investigate occupational and physiotherapists' knhowledge, patient load, and management practices used for individuals diagnosed with osteoarthitis. Methods: This quantitative, cross-sectional questionnaire pilot study included 34 post-graduate occupational and physiotherapists in public and private sectors in South Africa. Participants completed the questionnaire after providing informed consent on the first question of a Research Electronic Data Capture (REDCap) questionnaire. Afterwards, the data were exported to an Excel spreadsheet for descriptive statistical analysis. Results: Nineteen occupational therapists and fifteen physiotherapists, all females, and three physiotherapist males, participated. Occupational therapists obtained education in hand rehabilitation from accredited ontinuing education courses followed by undergraduate university training, and physiotherapists at undergraduate university level followed by clinical training on-site. Occupational therapists used splinting, and physiotherapists used electrotherapy and joint mobilisations. Occupational therapists included more best-evidence recommendations in their management approaches but not muscle strengthening exercises. Physiotherapists omitted more bes-evidence recommendations in the management of individuals with hand osteoarthritis. Both groups omitted assessments for quality of life and didn't use standardised outcome measures. Conclusion: Best-evidence practice recommendations were implemented more evidently in occupational therapists, with. both groups of therapists omitting standardised assessments for quality of life and function. Implications for practice: Standardised hand function and quality of life assessments should be included in management approaches. Exercise prescription and pain education need to be highlighted in the management. Best-evidence hand osteoarthritis management recommendations need to be advocated and implemented by occupational therapists and physiotherapists in South Africa Interdisciplinary practices, where the strangths of both occupational and physiotherapists are highlighted, will benefit individuals diagnosed with hand osteoarthritis.