Proposed Topic (Most preferred): :
Clinical Safety and Quality Service III (Projects aiming at quality service to patients and their carers)
Proposed Topic (Second preferred): :
Enhancing Partnership with Patients and Community (Projects initiated to engage patients / carers / community to improve efficiency / quality of care)
Authors (including presenting author) :
Choi WTS, Tsoi YN, Pak KH, Tang HT, Chan PC, So CT, Wong YCJ
Affiliation :
Occupational Therapy Department, Lai King Building, Princess Margaret Hospital
Introduction :
Stroke patients with hemiplegic hand functions are prone to inactivity outside of conventional rehabilitation during hospitalization. However, emerging evidence has shown that repetitive task practice (RTP), by increasing intensity and frequency of rehabilitation, promotes favorable outcomes for stroke patients.
Objectives :
This pilot study evaluates the effectiveness of additional self-rehabilitation, in the form of hand function training, on improving hemiplegic hand functions of stroke patients, compared with conventional rehabilitation alone.
Methodology :
A randomized design was adopted to compare the treatment effects of the control group – receiving conventional rehabilitation alone, to the experimental group – receiving additional self-rehabilitation. The experimental group was instructed to self-administer a 20-minute hand function training daily in ward, with the training kits given. The training kit consisted of cards, clips, straws, wooden boxes etc., which are selectively prescribed according to their hand function level. Both groups received rehabilitation for 2 weeks. Outcome measures including objective physical examination (power grip, lateral pinch), and upper limb function assessments, namely Action Research Arm Test (ARAT), Wolf Motor Function Test (WMFT), Hong Kong version of Functional Test for Hemiplegic Upper Extremity (FTHUE-HK) and 9-Hole Peg Test (9HPT), were performed before and after the 2-week period.
Result & Outcome :
19 eligible patients were recruited up till 31/12/2023. Preliminary analysis showed that improvements in hand functions were observed in both groups, yet, significant improvements were shown only in the experimental group. In the control group, improvements in all upper limb function assessments are not significant. (FTHUE-HK, p=0.586; ARAT, p=0.59; WMFT, p=0.402; 9HPT, p=0.090) In the experimental group, significant improvement is shown in all upper limb functions assessments. (FTHUE-HK, p=0.005; ARAT, p=0.029; WMFT, p=0.007; 9HPT, p=0.031)
