Tipperary

Traumatic hand injuries contribute to about one third of acute hospital visits. This research aims to evaluate the effectiveness of occupational therapy-led hand therapy services for adults who come to emergency departments or injury units with hand conditions. The study involves four sites in Ireland, including one without occupational therapy access, providing care as usual for comparison. The goal is to improve care quality and guide future service development for hand injuries. Participants at sites with occupational therapy access will be referred to specialized hand therapy clinics where therapists will offer treatments such as customized splinting, targeted exercises, swelling and scar management, desensitisation, education, and occupation-based activities. Those at the comparison site will receive usual care, which may include nursing and medical care, wound care, off-the-shelf orthoses, education, and referrals. Treatments are personalized and based on established protocols. The study will track outcomes at initial contact, 8 weeks, and 6 months. Participants will complete assessments measuring function, pain, quality of life, and occupational competence using standardized tools like QuickDASH, EuroQoL EQ-5D-5L, Occupational Self Assessment, and pain rating scales at baseline, 8 weeks, and six months. Researchers will analyze demographic, clinical, and process outcomes, aiming to identify patient, organizational, and societal benefits. The study runs until November 2025 and hopes to support evidence-based occupational therapy services for hand injuries.