1. Rock climbers’ management of hand injuries and perceptions on seeking healthcare: A mixed methods analysis
- Author
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Keaton Piper, Katherine Rizzone, Camille A. Martina, Jillian R. Gold, Ryan P. Bodkin, and Erik A. Rueckmann
- Subjects
medicine.medical_specialty ,media_common.quotation_subject ,lcsh:Medicine ,Mixed methods analysis ,General Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology ,03 medical and health sciences ,0302 clinical medicine ,Perception ,Health care ,medicine ,hand injury ,climbing injury ,Applied Psychology ,media_common ,rock climbing ,Hand injury ,business.industry ,lcsh:R ,healthcare utilization ,030208 emergency & critical care medicine ,030229 sport sciences ,medicine.disease ,Healthcare utilization ,Family medicine ,Climbing ,qualitative ,Physical therapy ,business ,Psychology - Abstract
This study examined rock climbers’ behaviors and perspectives on utilizing healthcare for climbing-related hand injuries. Twenty-eight climbers were interviewed and completed questionnaires on their management of the 88 climbing-related hand injuries in their lifetimes. The most prevalent reasons for not seeking professional healthcare for hand injuries were: trust in own and/or peers’ treatment knowledge (57%), belief that utilizing healthcare is unnecessary because injuries will self-resolve (35%), and belief that healthcare providers do not have appropriate knowledge to treat climbing-related hand injuries (21%). Ten injuries (11%) were evaluated by primary care physicians, hand specialists, and/or physical therapists. Reasons climbers did seek professional healthcare included an injury required a clearly urgent intervention (57%), repeated or worsening injuries (53%), and knowing a trusted provider (21%). This information can be used to better establish healthcare relationships with climbers to prevent and treat these common injuries and avoid long-term disability from improper management.
- Published
- 2017
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