Does a DVD improve compliance with home exercise programs for people who have sustained a traumatic hand injury? Results of a feasibility study.

Purpose: This feasibility study sought to determine if compliance and understanding of a home exercise program following a traumatic hand injury is improved when patients are provided with a DVD and a brochure when compared to using brochures only.

Method: Patients who presented with a traumatic hand injury and commenced on a hand therapy protocol were randomly assigned into two groups. The control group received brochures while the experimental group were provided with exercise instructions on DVD as well as brochures. Compliance was measured through the use of exercise diaries, clinic attendance, a checklist to measure correctness and understanding of exercises and a follow-up survey.

Results: No significant improvement was found in the mean exercise compliance score (p = 0.344) between the intervention and control groups. From the survey results almost half of all participants reported that pain interfered in their ability to perform their home exercises and a third acknowledged that time limited their ability to perform their exercises.

Conclusion: Findings demonstrate the multidimensional nature of compliance. The provision of DVD technology, while not shown to cause a statistically significant change in overall compliance, did help improve understanding of exercises; as such DVDs could be utilised as part of a program that facilitates the patient--therapist relationship.

Implications For Rehabilitation: Limited time and level of pain are highlighted as reasons for non compliance with exercise and treatment programs. The use of DVDs can improve understanding and execution of exercises and can be part of a treatment program that facilitates increased patient therapist contact for rural and remote clients.