Compliance of rheumatoid arthritis patients with resting hand splint

Abstract

Objective: Resting hand splint is frequently used to control symptoms in the acute inflamed period and to prevent development of deformity in rheumatoid arthritis. However, there is no adequate evidence about efficacy of the splint use in the literature. In the present study, we aimed to investigate compliance rate of resting hand splint use by patients with rheumatoid arthritis and to determine the causes of incompliance. Material and Methods: Forty-one rheumatoid arthritis patients who have been prescribed hand splint previously were enrolled into the study. Patients were asked to fulfill a questionnaire about the hand splint use. General health status and severity of pain were evaluated by visual analogue scale. Patients were examined and the number of tender and swollen joints were calculated. Also erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and C-reactive protein (CRP) values were recorded. Duruoz hand scale was used to evaluate hand disability. Results: Rate of regular hand splint use was 36.6%. The cause of irregular hand splint use was discomfort with the splint in half of the patients. Pain, general health status, tender-swollen joint count, ESR and CRP levels and Duruoz hand index were not different between the patients using hand splint regularly and irregularly. Conclusion: Compliance rate of resting hand splint use by patients with rheumatoid arthritis was low. Effects of these splints on pain, global health status and hand functions are indefinite. © 2010 by Türkiye Klinikleri.