The Role of an Educational Program in Reducing Symptom Severity in Women with High Risk for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome.

Aim: This study aimed to assess the effect of educational programs on symptom severity for women at high risk of carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS).

Methods

A quasi-experimental design was applied. A purposive sample of 250 women at high risk of CTS was selected from the Faculty of Nursing, Assiut University, Egypt. Data collection instruments included a structured interview questionnaire and the Boston Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Questionnaire (BCTQ).

Results

Most participants were middle-aged (41-50 years), married, and had higher education. At baseline, 61.2% of participants reported mild symptoms, 24.8% moderate, and 11.6% were asymptomatic. Following the educational program, symptom severity was significantly improved (p = 0.007). The proportion of asymptomatic participants increased from 11.6% to 20.4%, while those with moderate symptoms decreased from 24.8% to 6.4%. Functional status also improved significantly, with the percentage of participants reporting no difficulty increasing from 17.6% to 30% (p = 0.008). We found a significant reduction in symptom severity scores (p = 0.05) and functional impairment (p = 0.008).

Conclusions

The educational program effectively reduced CTS symptoms and improved hand function, demonstrating its potential as a preventive and therapeutic intervention for women at high risk of CTS. However, this study's quasi-experimental design without a control group and a short follow-up period limits conclusions regarding long-term effectiveness and causal inference.