Evaluation of occupational therapy-led advanced practice hand therapy clinics for patients on surgical outpatient waiting lists at eight Australian public hospitals.

STUDY DESIGN: This is a prospective cohort study.

INTRODUCTION: Evidence is emerging that advanced practice hand therapy clinics improve patient outcomes.

PURPOSE OF THE STUDY: The aim of this study was to evaluate an advanced practice hand therapy model of care for patients with chronic hand conditions on surgical outpatient waiting lists at eight Australian public hospitals.

METHODS: Nonurgent and semiurgent patients were screened and treated, as required, by an advanced practice hand therapist and then discharged from the surgical outpatient waiting list as appropriate. Outcomes included patient safety, impact on the waiting list, patient satisfaction, and patients' perception of change as measured by Global Rating of Change (GROC). The GROC score was also compared across diagnoses. The relationship between the waiting time and need for surgical review during hand therapy treatment was also assessed. As appropriate, T-tests and analysis of variance were used for statistical analyses.

RESULTS: A total of 37.2% of patients who commenced hand therapy were removed or discharged from the surgical outpatient waiting lists. Of the subset of patients who completed hand therapy (n = 1116), 28.4% were discharged without requiring surgical follow-up. A further 7.53% requested return to the waiting list despite discharge being recommended. The model of care was safe, and patient satisfaction was above 90%. The mean GROC score was +2.09 (±3.58) but varied across diagnoses with trigger finger or trigger thumb showing the greatest improvement (+4.21 ± 2.92, P < .01). Patients who did not require surgical consultation during hand therapy had a shorter wait time for their initial hand therapy appointment (P < .001).

CONCLUSIONS: The advanced practice hand therapy model of care was safe and effective in reducing hospital surgical outpatient waiting lists. Patients reported high satisfaction.