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The purpose of this study was to assess the intra- and inter-rater reliability of using screenshots and handheld manual goniometers to assess range of finger movements during video consultations. Twenty-seven hand therapists measured finger joint angles from four different screenshots using two different goniometers. Results were compared within and between participants using the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). The ICC grading for both intra- and inter-rater reliability was moderate to excellent for all joints and both goniometers. Clinicians can measure finger joint angles from a screenshot with good reliability. The protocol used in this study can be used in remote video consultations as a no-cost substitute for in-person goniometry. Level of evidence: II [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims and objectives: To explore the concept of "clinical academic" from the perspectives of healthcare managers and research‐active healthcare professionals outside medicine. Background: Clinical academics are understood to be healthcare professionals who combine clinical and research responsibilities within their role. However, there is no agreed definition for this term either within or across nursing, midwifery and the other healthcare professions outside medicine. Design: Qualitative service evaluation, reported using the COREQ checklist. Methods: Semi‐structured qualitative interviews were conducted with a purposive sample of eight healthcare managers and 12 research‐active clinicians within a UK hospital group. Interviews were audio recorded, transcribed verbatim and analysed using the Framework method. Results: Clinical academics were described in four themes. Two themes explored the components of the role and the contribution of these individuals to their profession: combining clinical practice, research and education; and pushing boundaries. The third theme identified the clinical academic label as: a title that doesn't fit. The final theme examined a characteristic mindset of research‐active clinicians. There were no clear differences in the perceptions of managers and research‐active clinicians. Conclusions: Clinical academics were perceived as valuable members of their team and were able to push the boundaries to move their profession forward. Some research‐active clinicians did not identify with the term "clinical academic" and for some managers and research‐active clinicians, the term was viewed as jargonistic. A clear and accepted definition would aid development of clinical academic career pathways and identities. It would also assist in evaluating the impact of these roles. Relevance to practice: As clinical academic roles and opportunities are being developed across the professions outside medicine, it is important to have a shared common understanding of "clinical academic" to support the creation of career pathways and curricula, and to enable the evaluation of these roles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to assess the intra- and inter-rater reliability of using screenshots and handheld manual goniometers to assess range of finger movements during video consultations. Twenty-seven hand therapists measured finger joint angles from four different screenshots using two different goniometers. Results were compared within and between participants using the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). The ICC grading for both intra- and inter-rater reliability was moderate to excellent for all joints and both goniometers. Clinicians can measure finger joint angles from a screenshot with good reliability. The protocol used in this study can be used in remote video consultations as a no-cost substitute for in-person goniometry. Level of evidence: II.

There is a limited evidence base from which to derive recommendations for safe and effective return to different types of occupation after carpal tunnel release surgery. The current practice of members of the British Society for Surgery of the Hand and the British Association of Hand Therapists was investigated with a questionnaire. In total, 173 surgeons and 137 therapists responded from an estimated sample of 1959. Median recommended return-to-work times were 7 days for desk-based duties, 15 days for repetitive light manual duties and 30 days for heavy manual duties. However, the responses were wide-ranging: 0-30 days for desk-based; 1-56 days for repetitive light manual; and 1-90 days for heavy manual. Variation in the recommended timescales for return to work and other functional activities after carpal tunnel release suggests that patients are receiving different and possibly even conflicting advice., Level of Evidence: V.

Background: Recruiting the desired number of research participants is frequently problematic with resulting financial and clinical implications. The views of individuals responsible for participant recruitment have not been previously reviewed. This systematic review and thematic meta-synthesis explores researchers' and clinicians' experiences and perceptions of recruiting participants to clinical research, with the aim of informing improved recruitment systems and strategies., Methods: Studies published between January 1995 and May 2013 were identified from: Ovid MEDLINE, Ovid EMBASE, Ovid PSYCHINFO, ASSIA, British Nursing Index, Scopus, Web of Science, CINAHL and PubMed. Included studies were original peer reviewed research, with qualitative methodologies and an aim of exploring the views of clinicians and/or researchers on recruitment to clinical research. Studies discussing the recruitment of patients unable to give informed consent were excluded. The findings sections of the relevant studies were free coded to identify key concepts which were grouped into hierarchical themes. The quality of the identified studies was assessed and the relative contribution of each paper was checked to ensure individual studies did not dominate in any theme., Results: Eighteen relevant papers were identified which examined the views of researchers and clinicians in 10 clinical specialties. Five main themes emerged: building a research community, securing resources, the nature of research, professional identities and recruitment strategies. The views of researchers and clinicians were similar, although the role of 'researcher' was inconsistently defined., Conclusions: The general experience of recruiting participants to clinical research was one of competition and compromise. Competition arose over funding, staffing and participants, and between clinical and research responsibilities. Compromise was needed to create study designs that were acceptable to patients, clinicians and researchers. Forging relationships between clinical and research teams featured extensively, however the involvement of patients and the public within the research community was rarely discussed.