Hand Therapy MSc

About the Course

This course is for occupational therapists and physiotherapists wanting to continue their professional development and develop evidence-based practice. Each module can be tailored to your own areas of interest within the area of hand therapy.

This course specialises in hand therapy, and it has been especially designed to meet your needs as a practising therapist, helping you to gain mastery in the specialist area.

Aims

The programme’s overall aim is to provide professional and personal development for occupational therapists and physiotherapists.

Brunel University has worked with the British Association of Hand Therapy (BAHT) to equate the two specific hand therapy modules to 7 BAHT points. The Hand therapy I Module is worth 2 BAHT points and the Hand Therapy 2 Module 5 BAHT points. These BAHT points can be used towards becoming an accredited Hand Therapist (BAHT). Previous or current experience in hand therapy is required by the BAHT before full accreditation can be applied for. However it will not be required by the University.

The programme also offers the option of a Postgraduate Certificate/Postgraduate Diploma without the requirement to continue to Masters. Students can also complete the stand alone module. Currently Hand Therapy 2 is being offered as an intense module in 2013. See further information on the course and to download the application form.

Enquiries

Anna Pratt
Programme Leader
School of Health Sciences and Social Care
Brunel University
Uxbridge
Middlesex UB8 3PH
UK
Tel +44 (0)1895 268742
Email health-studies-courses@brunel.ac.uk
Web Occupational Therapy subject pages

Special Features

Research within the School of Health Sciences and Social Care includes:

• Professional Practice (eg user involvement, occupational science, health promotion, falls prevention, discharge planning, acute care, cultural awareness)
• Research in Rehabilitation
• Ageing Studies

Course Content

The MSc Hand Therapy is a new interdisciplinary programme and is one of the first programmes of this nature in the UK.

Core Modules

Hand Therapy 1

Main topics include: detailed structural anatomy and physiology of the hand and wrist from spinal root level; development and functional anatomy and physiology of the upper limb and hand; biomechanical principles; hand pathologies; tissue healing and the lymphatic system; psychology of loss, self-image, self-esteem and recovery; social impact of upper limb trauma and disease.

Hand Therapy 2

Main topics include: standardised assessment techniques including client orientated outcomes, disease specific instruments, physical and psychological performance measures, and functional tests of performance; theoretical and practical evidence-based protocols and interventions strategies and measures of reliability, validity and applicability.

Communicating and Utilising Evidence in Practice

Main topics include; government policy, professional initiatives and their implications for evidence-based practice; making evidence available for practice through effective communication; defining evidence; levels and types; searching for research evidence; appraising research evidence; grading evidence based recommendations for practice; strategies for integrating evidence into practice whilst also considering the clients’ values and using clinical judgement and experience; managing change; models; barriers to implementing evidence in practice and strategies for overcoming them; evaluating and monitoring changes to practice.

Research Methods

Main topics include: philosophical underpinnings of research methodology; proposal design; searching and reviewing the literature; ethical issues in research and research governance; surveys and longitudinal studies; questionnaire design; experimental and quasi-experimental designs; n of 1 studies; statistical analysis and using SPSS; depth interviews; focus groups; observation; use of documentary sources; qualitative analysis.

Or

Principles and Practice in Evidence-Based Healthcare

The module offers students the opportunity to examine recent literature and to consider its contribution to evidence-based practice. Students will explore the types of information that are collected about health and clinical practice and will critically evaluate research material from a range of study designs.

Research Design

Students will work within a current research activity in an area relevant to their identified field of interest relevant to each MSc programme area. By means of the construction of a research proposal, students will explore the options of the research process by considering the possibility of quantitative projects focusing on the measurement and analysis of data relevant to a question from within the discipline of their major, a qualitative project focusing on an inductive approach relevant to the discipline of their major, or a systematic review of the evidence relevant to a question from within the discipline of their major. This latter approach may itself be either qualitative or quantitative. Refinement of the identified topic will be done by way of a literature search. Topics of study might include: search tools, the parameters of research literature, research questions, and the ethics of research, timelines and the planning of research, costing research and the research proposal.

Dissertation

The dissertation is undertaken after completion of the core modules, and is a major element of the MSc. The dissertation project provides the student with the opportunity to integrate and apply the concepts and principles developed throughout the course within his/her own particular area of interest or research. The selected topic should reflect the needs for development in the area of hand therapy. It can take the form of a traditional research project or an extensive literature review ready for submission to a journal.

Elective Modules (one from)

Functional Neuroscience for Rehabilitation

Main topics include: nervous system development and plasticity; synaptic physiology – chemical transmitters; modifable synapses: from development, to learning and recovery of function; autonomic nervous system and hypothalamic function; functional neuroanatomy – from pathways to neurological lesions and deficits; cellular mechanisms of neural injury and repair in stroke, injury and brain trauma; genetics of neurodegenerative disorders; brain chemistry, emotions and behaviour; pain and chronic pain management; cortical functioning in sensation and perception; vision and control of gaze; hearing and speech; brain imaging; consciousness: EEG, coma, sleep and epilepsy and cognition; modern neuroscientific tools for the exploration of brain function.

Occupational Therapy for Children, Young People and Families

Main topics include: analysis of aspects in child development and study of common problems and disorders in childhood; review of the research based current evidence on occupational therapy theory and practice for children and adolescents; review the clinical reasoning process in paediatric occupational therapy practice; examine a selection of experimental methods appropriate for assessing and evaluating clinical practice or service delivery in children’s health; exploration of effective ways of incorporating the family into their child’s assessment and treatment; exploration of relevant current children’s health policy and legislation.

Occupational Therapy for Active Ageing

Main topics include: occupations, occupational deprivation and occupational justice for older people; current older persons’ health policy and legislation pertaining to occupational therapy; review of the research based literature on occupational therapy theory and practice for older people; person centred care; quantitative and qualitative measures to assess clinical practice or service delivery for older people; joint working across Health and Social Care voluntary contexts; risk assessment, social inclusion and health promotion; present orally, their informed opinion pertaining to current policy and legislation (relating to active ageing) and occupational therapy practice.

Specialist Practice in Occupational Therapy 

This will primarily be related to the topic chosen by the student and subject advisor. Main topics include: Learning contracts; needs analysis; goal setting; strategies and resources for learning

Assessment

This course uses a variety of assessment methods to support your development. For example the Hand Therapy 1 module assessment includes a case presentation and Hand Therapy 2 module a poster presentation and has been developed as such to help students to develop skills and encourage involvement at professional conferences.

Careers

This course is appropriate for those currently working in the area of hand therapy or those wanting to further develop their skills in preparation for this specialist area.

Fees for 2013/14 entry

UK/EU students: £5,800 full-time; £2,900 part-time

International students: £15,000 full-time; £7,500 part-time

Read about funding opportunities available to postgraduate students

Fees quoted are per annum and are subject to an annual increase.

Entry Requirements

A first degree or a diploma in the relevant professional area (Physiotherapy or Occupational Therapy) will be required. Applicants with a third class degree; a diploma; or a degree in a related subject area will be considered on a case-by-case basis to ensure that this programme is a suitable choice. Brunel University is currently working with the British Association of Hand Therapy (BAHT) to establish if points can be gained from the MSc Hand Therapy modules towards becoming an accredited Hand Therapist (BAHT). Previous or current experience in hand therapy is required by the BAHT before full accreditation can be applied for. However it will not be required by the University.

English Language Requirements

Brunel also offers our own BrunELT English Test and accept a range of other language courses. We also have a range of Pre-sessional English language courses, for students who do not meet these requirements, or who wish to improve their English.