The Effect of Priming of Questionnaire Content on Grip Strength in Patients With Hand and Upper Extremity Illness

Not Applicable

Completed

Interventions: Other: Grip Strength
Other: Standard PCS
Other: Positively Adjusted PCS

Brief Summary: Objectives:

To determine the association between priming and measurements of hand function such as grip strength

Primary null hypothesis:

There is no difference in grip strength (best of three attempts) as a percent of the opposite hand between patients that complete the standard Pain Catastrophizing Scale (PCS) compared to patients that complete the positively adjusted PCS.

Secondary null hypotheses:

There is no difference in grip strength (last of three attempts) as a percent of the opposite hand between patients that complete the standard PCS compared to patients that complete the positively adjusted PCS.

There is no difference in grip strength (best of three attempts) before and after completing the questionnaires between patients that complete the standard PCS compared to patients that complete the positively adjusted PCS.

Detailed Description: Priming affects all aspects of human behavior. Prior research by the investigators' group determined that completing a positively phrased version of the pain catastrophizing scale (PCS) primed patients to report less disability on average than completing the standard PCS. The influence of priming can be better understood by determining if it also affects direct measurements of hand function such as grip strength measures.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Inclusion Criteria

All English-speaking adult patients visiting the Orthopaedic Hand and Upper Extremity Service

Exclusion Criteria

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Positive PCS	Positively Adjusted PCS	Grip strength measurements and completes positively adjusted PCS
Positive PCS	Grip Strength	Grip strength measurements and completes positively adjusted PCS
Standard PCS	Standard PCS	Grip strength measurements and completes standard PCS
Standard PCS	Grip Strength	Grip strength measurements and completes standard PCS

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Difference in Grip Strength Measured With Dynamometer	Day 1	Difference in Grip strength of both hands after completing intervention. Each participant completed the grip strength measurement 3 times with both hands at enrollment (day 1). The results reported represent an increase or decrease in mean grip strength and maximum grip strength after completing the intervention.
Positive Pain Catastrophizing Scale (PCS)	enrollment	The positive pain catastrophizing scale (PCS) is a positively-phrased 13-item scale to measure catastrophic thinking. The scale is from 0-4 and scores range from 0-52, a higher score indicates less catastrophic thinking about pain.
Pain Catastrophizing Scale (PCS)	enrollment	The pain catastrophizing scale is a 13-item scale to measure catastrophic thinking. The scale is from 0-4 and scores range from 0-52, a lower score indicates less catastrophic thinking about pain.