Psychological reactions to hand injuries among semi-skilled Chinese workers

Abstract

It has been widely acknowledged that successful treatment and rehabilitation of patients suffering from hand injuries requires physical as well as psychological interventions. However, little is understood about the psychological problems experienced by the patients during the course of their injury, recovery and later adjustment. This paper outlines and presents some preliminary findings of a study on semi-skilled Chinese workers who suffered hand injuries owing to industrial accidents in Hong Kong. The aim was to explore their reactions to their injuries, which, in most cases, left permanent damage. The patients were assessed within a month after they had been discharged from the hospital after the orthopaedic treatment was completed. Measures of their mood states (based on Analogue Subjective Feelings Scale) and self-esteem (based on Coopersmith Self-esteem Inventory) were taken. The results indicated a significant difference between those who had suffered a more severe disability and those who had suffered less disability in their self-esteem in the family. The general self-esteem score was much lower in those who had suffered more severely disabling hand injuries. The patients were under pressure in meeting the demands of the family and their work. The point of importance that emerged from this analysis was that the measures of rehabilitation should not only aim at making the patient meet the original demands but should also try and change the environmental expectations to reduce his stress in coping.