Compliance in Wearing Wrist Working Splints in Rheumatoid Arthritis

Two consecutive studies on patient compliance with wearing wrist splints were done to identify factors contributing to compliance. For the first study, questionnaires regarding splint-wearing habits were completed by 265 arthritic patients who had received any type of wrist splint made by occupational therapists. Perceived benefits of splinting and discomfort in wearing splints were identified as the major determining factors in compliance, which was found to be about 75%. Appearance of splints was a minor factor. The second study, involving 130 patients with rheumatoid arthritis, used a new, more comfortable splint design and focused on educating patients and therapists about the benefits of splinting. One year later, all patients who had received the new working splint completed questionnaires on compliance and splint-wearing habits. Compliance remained the same, and again perceived benefit from splinting was the major factor determining compliance. Discomfort in wearing the working wrist splints was negligible in the second study.