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Happy Hands

An app for digital self-management of hand osteoarthritis

Project managers
Physiotherapist | PhD

Professor Anne Therese Tveter, Deputy Head of REMEDY

Occupational therapist | PhD

Professor Ingvild Kjeken
PhD fellow
Nurse

Kristine Aasnes Fjeldstad

ABOUT THE PROJECT

Hand osteoarthritis affects nearly half of all women and a quarter of all men, and is an important cause of pain and impaired function in the hands. There is no cure, but international guidelines state that information, hand training and the use of simple support splints and aids are effective measures to reduce pain and improve function. The offer for this patient group, however, is inadequate and to improve the offer, researchers, clinicians and user representatives at Diakonhjemmet Hospital, in collaboration with the University Center for Information Technology at UiO, developed an app to make information about this recommended treatment available.

The purpose of this project is to investigate the effect, cost-effectiveness and experiences with using the Happy Hands app.

WHO CAN JOIN?

Recruitment for the project has been completed.

The participants were patients who had been diagnosed with hand osteoarthritis by healthcare professionals. They had either sought help themselves or been referred to a GP or healthcare institution participating in the project, where they were asked to participate in the study.

For an overview of which health institutions participated, contact: This email address is protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Recruitment of participants for the study is ongoing.

WHAT DOES THE STUDY INVOLVE?

Participants in the study, after providing written informed consent, were drawn into one of two groups:

  1. One group (the control group) received standard treatment. This treatment included, at a minimum, written information about hand osteoarthritis.
  2. The second group (the intervention group) received standard treatment and access to a 12-week digital program through the Happy Hands app.

The program consists of films with knowledge-based information about hand osteoarthritis, treatment options, self-management of the disease, and hand training.

Before, during and after the project, information about the participants was collected through questionnaires. Those who were drawn into the control group were given access to the Happy Hands app when the project was completed after 6 months.