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Table 3 Hand specific data to be collected only at 18 months and 3 years

From: The Clinical Assessment Study of the Hand (CAS-HA): a prospective study of musculoskeletal hand problems in the general population

Concept

Measurement method

Details

Perceived change in hand problem since baseline

Transition index [48]‡

completely recovered, much better, better, no change, worse, much worse

Health care related to hand problem since baseline

Hand injury

yes, no

 

Hand operation

yes, no

 

Consulted GP in past 18 months†

yes, no

 

NHS and private services used in past 18 months† (adapted from [36])

yes, no to physiotherapy, occupational therapy, hospital specialist, acupuncture, osteopath/chiropractor, drugs on prescription, hand operation, hand injection, other

Occupational impact since baseline

Time off work

yes, no

 

Stopped work

yes, no

Hand pain and hand symptoms

Days of hand swelling in past month

all, most, some, few, no

 

Days of hand pain in past 6 months^ [22]

no, 1–30, 31–89, 90+ days

 

Hand pain severity in past 6 months^

numerical rating scale (1–10)

Coping strategies for hand pain

Single-item Coping Strategies Questionnaire (CSQ) [49]

numerical rating scale (0–7) with verbal anchors (never do that, always do that)

Illness perceptions

Shortened version adapted from IPQ-R [35]

6 dimensions: illness coherence, personal control, timeline (acute/chronic), timeline (cyclical), consequences, emotional representation

Management/self-help

7 treatments/self-help activities tried in past month: simple painkiller; anti-inflammatory tablets; creams, gels, or rubs; glucosamine or chondroitin sulphate; warmth, heat; cold; hand exercises

yes, no

Narrative account

Open-ended question: course of hand pain and problems‡

free text

  1. ‡ Minimum data to be sought at 18 months and 3 years from non-responders; †Data only gathered at 18 months; ^Data only gathered at 3 years