Family Expectations and Arthritis Patient Compliance to a Hand Resting Splint Regimen

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

1-1-1970

Description

The present study reveals that perceived family expectations are strongly related to arthritis patients' use of hand resting splints, both in terms of statistical significance and magnitude of use. That is, there is a difference in the use of the splint when it is perceived that one's family expects him to use it as opposed to when such expectation is lacking. Females were found to comply a greater average per cent of the time than males, older persons used it more than younger ones, and in this instance the lower social class subjects complied more than the middle and upper social class groupings. Physicians and therapists who prescribe and provide such service should consider in the total treatment process how their patients perceive family expectation of health care procedures. Further research in the area should emphasize the controlled experimental approach rather than surveys. Trials are now needed to determine the degree to which patients' participation and response to treatment can be accomplished through motivations of the family unit.

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