Effect of Training Exercise Program on Functional Outcomes for Patients with Hand Burns

Abstract

Context: The outcome of hand burns can significantly impact daily function and overall health-related quality of life. A crucial issue in hand burns is proper management of hands treatment and care for maximizing the normal function of the burned hand.
Aim: To evaluate the effect of training exercise program on functional outcomes for patients with hand burns.
Methods: A quasi-experimental design (study/control group) was utilized to achieve the aim of this study. This study was conducted at the burn unit at Benha Teaching Hospital. A purposive sample of 60 conscious adult patients who suffered from hand burns. They were divided equally into the study and control group, 30 patients in each. Two tools were used. The structured interview questionnaire to assess patients' knowledge regarding burn injury. Functional outcome scale involving: Jebson-Taylor hand function test (JTHFT) and observational checklist for assessing the hand’s range of motion.

Results: Showed that there was highly statistically significant improvement in patients’ knowledge score among the study group compared to the control group, as well as there was an improvement in the function of hand and range of motion in the study group rather than in the control group with highly statistically significant differences between both groups.
Conclusions: Implementing a designed training exercise program for patients with hand burns effectively improved knowledge, function of the hand, and range of motion among the study group than in the control group. The study recommended that post-burn programs should be initiated by a multidisciplinary team and continued after discharge to provide support, education, prevention of complications, and motivation for burn patients.