shows that therapists must go furthersince active elbow flexion in this pa-thology is not described.

OBJECTIVES

1. Report the result of a caseand reaffirm the importanceof early and global interven-tion on the treatment ofarthrogryposis.

2. Bring todiscussion the earlyuseof splints onArthrogryposisnotonly for correcting deformities,but also as a modality that caninterfere in contraction, im-provement of muscle functionand on cortical representation.

CULTURALAPPROPRIATEREHABILITATIONWITHIN THEENVIRONMENTALCONTEXT OF A THIRDWORLD COUNTRY

Lydia L. Christesen, UnitedStates of America

Purpose: The purpose of this eth-nographic study was to discoverwhether the therapeutic approachesfrequently utilized by westerntrained therapists would be appro-priate for children and their familiesin developing countries. The studywas designed around the tenets of theTranscultural Nursing ResearchModel.

Methods: The study was a quali-tative ethnographic research study.The study consisted of four semi-structured family interviews of chil-dren with hand burns and orCerebral Palsy coupled with obser-vations of their children in therapy,plus four semi-structured interviewsof health care workers at a hospital inZambia and Kenya. The author chosethe ethnographic transcultural nurs-ing method for her study because itrequired the collecting of data by anaturalistic and emic mode in orderto arrive at a therapeutic approachthat would be consistent with theculture. Participants were asked tosign a consent form. An interpreterwas provided prior to participatingin the study. The transcultural

nursing technique involved four es-sential phases; phase one: observa-tion and active listening; phase two:observation with minimal participa-tion; phase three: semi-structuredopen-ended questions developed bythe researcher with in the context ofthe transcultural nursing sunrisemodel, and phase four: reflectionand reconfirmation of the study torecheck the findings with two generalinformants who are health careworkers at the hospital.

Results: Results of the ethno-graphic study indicated that factorssuch as religion, economy, technologyand social structure play a significantpart in the design of an appropriatecultural therapy program for those ina developing country.

Conclusions: Utilization of thetranscultural nursing model for de-veloping an appropriate therapy pro-gram allowed the therapist todevelop a treatment plan that pro-vides the ability to preserve, main-tain, accommodate, negotiate, andthen repattern or restructure the in-dividuals therapeutic needs accord-ing to his/her cultural worldview.

Relevance: The study provides acomplimentary approach to adaptinghand therapy protocols when work-ing in a developing country wherelimitations of resources and culturaldifferences could impact the thera-pists goal of optimum hand functionfor the client.

OBJECTIVES

1. The therapist will be able toidentify reasons for culturalappropriate hand therapy.

2. The therapist will be able toapply the transcultural nurs-ing model when working in adeveloping country.

VIEWS FROM AROUNDTHE WORLD: THE‘MEANINGS’ ASCRIBEDTO HANDS –IMPLICATIONS FORPRACTICE

Susan Hannah, Toronto WesternHospital, Susan Mulholland,Canada

Purpose: In the realm of HandTherapy, ‘hands’ are often viewedfrom only an anatomical, physiolog-ical, or ethnocentric perspective.Hands are critical for enabling peopleto engage in healthy occupations,however how these activities areperformed, and the meaning(s) as-cribed to the way hands are usedvaries within cultures and individ-uals. A broader view of these mean-ings can inform the practice of handtherapy and ensure a more holisticapproach to recovery. Methods ofassessment and intervention will bediscussed.

Methods: A stimulating visualpresentation of photo images fromaround the world, and a short inter-active group activity, will introduceparticipants to the main concepts ofthis presentation. Implications forpractice, including methods of as-sessment and intervention, will bediscussed. A detailed reference listwill be included.

Results: Concepts, assessmentsand intervention strategies to ensurea more holistic approach to handtherapy will be presented.

Conclusions: It is critical to con-sider the meaning(s) associated withhands in order to ensure holistic andculturally sensitive hand therapypractice.

Relevance: Hand Therapists canbenefit from understanding howthe meaning(s) ascribed to handsfrom individual and world perspec-tives impact recovery following ahand injury. Assessments andintervention strategies will bepresented.

OBJECTIVES

1. To expand participants un-derstanding of the meaning(s) ascribed to hands fromindividual and worldperspectives.

2. To understand how thesemeanings influence recoveryfollowing a hand injury.

3. Participants will be introducedto concepts, assessments andstrategies to ensure a more ho-listic approach to handtherapy.

October–December 2010 e21