ArticleBMJ open2023
'It's just a finger isn't it…': patients' perspectives of recovery following finger fractures and participation in surgical trials - a qualitative interview study.
Article in BMJ open, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.
What it found
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The trial behind it
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Who cites it
2 citing papers in PubMed.
- Patient Perspectives After Trapeziectomy Versus Carpometacarpal Prosthesis: A Qualitative Thematic Analysis of Ten Bilateral Cases.Journal of clinical medicine · 2025Article
- Clinical decision making in the assessment and treatment of closed hand fractures: A scoping review.Hand therapy · 2024Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
5 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
objectivesTo (1) generate detailed, person-centred data about the experience of finger injury and treatment and (2) understand the patients' perspectives of research involvement with a view to informing better designed future studies in hand injury.
designQualitative study using semistructured interviews and framework analysis.
participants19 participants who were part of the Cohort study of Patients' Outcomes for Finger Fractures and Joint Injuries study in a single secondary care centre in the UK.
resultsThe results of this study showed that although finger injuries are frequently seen as minor by patients and healthcare professionals, their effects on peoples' lives are possibly greater than first anticipated. The relative importance of hand functioning means that the experience of treatment and recovery varies and is shaped by an individual's age, job, lifestyle and hobbies. These factors will also inform an individual's perspective on and willingness to participate in, hand research. Interviewees showed reluctance to accept randomisation in surgical trials. Interviewees would be more likely to participate in a study testing two variants of the same treatment modality (eg, surgery vs surgery), rather than two different modalities, (eg, surgery vs splint). The Patient-Reported Outcome Measure questionnaires that were used in this study were seen as less relevant by these patients. Pain, hand function and cosmetic appearance were considered important, meaningful outcomes.
conclusionsPatients with finger injuries need more support from healthcare professionals as they may experience more problems than first anticipated. Good communication by clinicians and empathy can help patients engage with the treatment pathway. Perceptions of an 'insignificant' injury and/or need for quick functional recovery will influence recruitment to future hand research (both positively and negatively). Accessible information about the functional and clinical consequences of a hand injury will be important in enabling participants to make fully informed decisions about participation.
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