Abstract
This scoping review identifies psychosocial interventions for adults with upper extremity (UE) conditions that have been tested in the literature. Ideas for interweaving psychosocial intervention into OT for physical rehabilitation are explored.
Primary Author and Speaker: Karrianna L. Iseminger
Occupational therapy practitioners (OTPs) in the hand therapy context are uniquely positioned to address psychosocial barriers to occupational performance that arise secondary to upper extremity (UE) conditions. However, these OTPs predominantly use a biomechanical approach to intervention with focus on physical barriers.1,2 Limited application of psychosocial interventions is often due to lack of knowledge or administrative barriers. The purpose of this project was to explore OT interventions for psychosocial factors associated with UE conditions that appear in the literature. The following research question was answered: What are the outcomes of OT intervention approaches for psychosocial factors associated with UE conditions? A scoping review was chosen for this project as it provides a systematic method to map and discuss the relevant literature while clarifying vague concepts and identifying knowledge gaps. This review was developed following the Joanna Briggs Institute and PRISMA-ScR guidelines beginning with the population, concept, context framework.3 Evidence included are empirical studies published after 1984 in which psychosocial interventions were tested for effectiveness in adults with UE conditions. A data extraction tool was used to map and analyze the data. Twelve studies met the inclusion criteria. Twelve unique intervention approaches were used with most studies using a combination of between two and six approaches. The most commonly tested approaches were: education, multidisciplinary, and cognitive and behavioral approaches. Nine of the 12 tested interventions resulted in improved occupational performance and decreased physical symptoms. Many of these interventions could be interwoven into therapy with limited affect on physical rehabilitation time. Though the research is promising, more empirical studies are needed to confirm the current evidence while exploring how the intervention approaches affect specific psychosocial factors.
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