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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?

Patients diagnosed with hand osteoarthritis by healthcare professionals and who seek help or have been referred to a GP or healthcare institution participating in the project can participate in the study.

For an overview of which healthcare institutions are participating, contact: This email address is protected from programs that collect email addresses. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

Recruitment of participants for the study is ongoing.

WHAT DOES THE STUDY INVOLVE?

If you wish to participate in the study, after giving written informed consent, you will be drawn into one of two groups:

  1. One group (the control group) will receive standard treatment. This treatment will, at a minimum, include written information about hand osteoarthritis.
  2. The second group (the intervention group) will receive standard treatment and will follow 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, we will collect information about you through a questionnaire. If you are selected for the control group, you will be given access to the Happy Hands app after 6 months.