Evaluation of Jebsen Hand Function Test for Use in Nursing Students: Close-Future Outlook
Authors: AYNACI GÜLDEN , KAYA BUSE 
Published: June 2018

Introduction Currently, in some countries, performance testing is used to assess hand skills in recruitment of staff and students. The Jebsen-Taylor Hand Function Test (JTT) is a standard hand function test measure widely used in clinical and practical applications. The purposes of this study are to evaluate the use of JTT template board in nursing students, to demonstrate the increased ease of placement of test items, and to establish a means of assessing nursing students in a test which requires coordination skills. Method Our study was performed with Trakya University undergraduate nursing students between the ages of 18-25. This study included 168 students between April 2017-June 2018. Age, gender, demographic characteristics, body mass index, anthropometric evaluations, and dominant hand were recorded to evaluate hand skills. Evaluation of skill and function was performed by the Jebsen-Taylor Hand Function test. Results The study showed the mean durations (in seconds) to complete JTT and subtests in males and females. In addition, p values were recorded for males and females for each subtest. A statistically significant difference was found only in &ldquo;moving wide and light objects&rdquo; (subtest 6). Durations for subtests 3 and 5 in our study for both dominant and nondominant hands were shorter than Harte et al study. Only duration for subtest 5 was shorter than the original article (Jebsen et al.). Anthropometric measurements in our study showed a significant relation only between forearm length and the JTT. We concluded that anthropometric measurements don&rsquo;t affect hand function. Students graduated from health vocational high school completed the test in a shorter duration with dominant hand. Duration of test was shorter for both hands in subjects who used computer for more than 3 hours than subjects who used computer less frequently. Discussion This study gives new data for the JTT using a template board in a sample consisted of nursing undergraduate students. Our study demonstrated practical time benefit of using a template for JTT. It increased accuracy of subtests and provided time. In our study using a template board also enabled re-installation of subtests for each participant. In our study time to complete subtest 3 (small objects) and subtest 5 (checkers) were significantly low. In addition, subtest 5 was finished in a shorter time than the original study for the dominant hand. When a template board is not used a specialist should locate test material at a correct distance from sides of the table and from one another. Time loss is inevitable. Use of a template board helped installation of test especially for 5th, 6th and 7th subtests. In addition, it helped telling the test to students. Comparison of our study with normal data in other studies demonstrated that nursing students demonstrated similar hand function levels in JTT. Advantage of using a template board was better results in subtest 3 and 5. Conclusion Our study provides evidence that standard objective measures of hand function can be obtained in the educational and clinical settings. So, clinical skills of the students can be followed, insights are obtained about details that should be supported and these can be added to their education programs. At the same time, our data shows that there is no need for gender discrimination in the nursing profession, which requires hand skills and fine motor skills. In addition after determining level of hand skills, various training simulations and technological tools can be developed to increase such skills. The data obtained at the end of the study can be used to determine the training needs of employees to increase work efficiency and professional satisfaction. It will give an idea to work on hand force and function in other professions. Our findings may be helpful until reliable norms are established depending on a bigger and more representative sample in nursing profession. Evaluating hand functions in nursing profession will help in job selection, job performance evaluation, and improving job and staff health. Efforts should be made to improve hand functions and they should be supported by education in professions that require good hand function.