only first year, but got a dissertation question

[FairLadyRantALot]

Well, today came, what I think, a fab idea to me....something I may could write my dissertation about....
it would be a comaprison of a condition, where all literature seems to support that surgery and than Handtherapy for rehabilitation is the only way that seems to really deal with the problem, and that not doing surgery and only handtherapy and splinting doesn't really make a difference.

So, now I have come across a patient who refused surgery and he has been having handtherapy and a splinting and has really improved a lot...ROM (Range of movement) massively improved in a matter of weeks.
Ask my Educator and she says that she has treated several people with similar outcome, but that they would face night time splinting forever and would have to keep up there exercise programme.

Now, if this condition is surgically treated it takes a long time to get ROM back, etc....and whilst splinting is not a permanent issue and Homeexercise programme won't be needed forever, often this condition returns and they end up having to have another surgery.

Now, what I think would be interesting would be, to compare the outcomes (with and without surgery) measured but also self assessed and patient perceived outcome.

But of course this would have to be something looked into longterm...therefore, I suppose things would have to be put into motion now...
Anyone know if that is possible? When can you start acting towards your dissertation?

As you see, I am clueless, really!
Not sure it is making much sense.

I am an Occupational Therapy Student in the first year.
I have this feeling that probably I wouldn't be able to do anything yet, but anyone know?

Fairlady, I'm afraid I haven't a clue but thought I'd bump this up for you. Might be a good idea to repost with a more descriptive thread title to attract the attention of other OT students and qualified OTs?

possible right

Well, have spoken to my Placement educator about it and found out stuff from year 2 student at placement and from Band 5 OT...and I think that my original idea would not work at BSc OT degree dissertation level...possibly more an idea for Masters (if I do that...)
However, have come up with another good one, and my Educator said that I should be able to find lots on that and that it would make a good dissertation...a lit review about the use of Mirrorboxes...so...that might jsut be the ticket....as it would be very interesting to learn more about it and all that...

thank you for the bump

Oh Fairlady that sounds interesting.I haven't a clue what mirrorboxes are but when I did my diss in a health field (AEONS AGO) the first thing I did was a lit.review on my field of interest and then developed a hypothesis from there.I did a small qualitative study using interviews of a small sample.I guess you need to figure out if you want to do a qualitative or a quantitative study first off.I didn't think about my diss until final year so it sounds like you are really keen!!!

OT is a GOOD THING to do,and woefully understaffed.My dd was referred in September and I am still waiting for an assessment...I KNOW they are really overworked

wrinkly...yes OT is fabulous...I used to be a nurse (many years ago...and it wasn't a degree as it is over here/now) and could not imagine myself returning into nursing....!OT is what I am meant to do....

A mirrorbox is used in Handtherapy (alhtough possibly being used in other OT fields, too...) and basically you put the affected hand into a popup box and lay the other hand next to it, outside the box...on the outside is a mirror....you than ask the patient to do certain exercises with both hands at the same time, watching the unaffected hand in the mirror...this is meant to stimulate the brain to use "normal" pattern of movement.
YOu use it for patients that have lost the normal pattern of movement for numerous reasons...forinstance a patient after a handinjury that could not use that hand for a while and has lost normal movement....i.e. the brain has "unlearned"/forgotten the normal pattern...

I am sure someone else could have explained that far better...lol...and possibly in less words...

I htink might jsut go for lit review, rather than conducting a study...iykwim...although, I shall see about that....once I know more...

the year 2 student said that they had to put their proposals for their dissertation in already....

That sounds really intersting

Good luck with it all.

Its really lovely to hear somebody who is so obviously enjoying their course.

honestly the best thing ever....!!!!

You could start your Literature review now.

Its so important to do something that you find interesting, although im enjoying doing my dissertation, I find it relentlessly time consuming and would have lost the will to live had I not been looking at research that Iam really interested in.

Good Luck!

( do you have to get ethical approval from your Uni ethics commitee to do this? If so bear in mind that that can take months to go through)

I think I do...will be back in Uni in April , so, should have opporunity to ask questions then!
Oh, and thanks!

And good luck for your Dissertation

Mirror Box clip on you tube