Evaluation of professionals and individuals with hand injuries' perspective on measurement and evaluation methods used for hand injuries

This study was designed to investigate the perspectives of hand surgeons, therapists working in the field of hand rehabilitation and individuals with hand injuries on the outcome measurement tools used in Turkey and these measurement tools according to ICF (International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health). 79 hand surgeons, 86 therapists working in the field of hand injury, and 75 individuals with hand injuries participated to the study. Questionnaires have been created for these groups. Via the questionnaires prepared for therapists and surgeons, the frequency of the experts' evaluation, reasons for not being able to evaluate, and the evaluation tools they used were questioned. In the question bank prepared for individuals with hand injuries, the most important problems (self-care, return to work, quality of life, etc.) were questioned. The data were collected by online or face-to-face interview method. 84.8% of surgeons and 90.7% of therapists participating in the study do measurement and evaluation. 63% of surgeons prefer clinician-based,15% performance-based, 22% patient-reported outcome measurement tool, 47% of therapists among participants also prefer clinician-based, 23% performance-based, and 30% patient-reported outcome measurement tool and both participants evaluate ICF's 'body structure and functions' parameter. Individuals with hand injuries mostly prefer the use of patient-reported outcome measurement tools and request the 'activity' and 'environmental factors' parameters of ICF to be mostly evaluated in. As the duration of professional experience increases, the rates of using patient-reported outcome measurement tools increase. The data it that was discovered during the study that the perspectives of therapists and surgeons in Turkey and perspectives of individuals with a hand injury vary in terms of usage of outcome measurement tools. The study emphasizes the importance of transition from clinician-based measurement methods to patient reported outcome measurement methods.