Managing work‐related lateral elbow tendinopathy: Australian hand therapist's experiences with workplace‐based interventions

Abstract

Introduction Lateral elbow tendinopathy (LET) is one of the most prevalent work‐related musculoskeletal conditions. Current treatments for LET focus mainly on the physiological symptoms of pain, grip strength, and function. Recently, a novel workplace‐based hand therapy educational intervention, Working Hands‐ED, was developed based on the Person‐Environment‐Occupation‐ Performance model, International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health framework and the Australian Clinical Framework for the Delivery of Health Services. Combining a hand therapist's specialised knowledge and skills in upper limb rehabilitation with an approach that considers injured workers' occupations and work environments may provide a more holistic approach to managing work‐related LET. To the best of our knowledge, no previous studies have investigated the experiences of hand therapists who perform workplace‐based educational interventions for the management of LET. Method An exploratory, descriptive qualitative design using semi‐structured interviews was used with hand therapists who delivered the novel hand therapy intervention Working Hands‐ED. Findings Ten occupational therapists working in hand therapy were interviewed. Three main themes and eight subthemes were identified from interview data: Person‐centred approach, opportunity for therapists to provide enhanced service, and improved stakeholder engagement in the return‐to‐work process. Logistical challenges such as the costs and time spent away from the clinical setting were identified. Conclusion All hand therapists reported delivering Working Hands‐ED when managing work‐related LET was a positive experience for them. They believed that the novel intervention could provide a more holistic approach to care that added value to their service delivery; however, there were some logistical factors to consider including the additional time and costs associated with the intervention.