Dr Susan de Klerk is a senior lecturer and researcher within the Division of Occupational Therapy. She also acts as Masters programme coordinator. Her field of expertise is Hand Therapy, with a special interest in measurement and the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health. The South African context, the nature of injuries unique to this context and the thorough consideration and measurement of all factors that impacts hand health is her research priority. The consideration of how the patient perceives their condition to impact on their activity and participation is of special interest, specifically patient reported outcome measures (PROMs) and the application thereof within our context. In addition, she is interested in the understanding of the constructs of activity and participation and the variation that exists in different settings, influenced by personal and environmental factors; and in the case of PROMs, the cross cultural adaptation of the language of the measure to ensure validity and reliability.
De Klerk, S., Gqada, L., Honiball, R., Julius, L., Van Wyk, C. & Jacob - Nzuzi Khuabi, L. (2023): The Impact of Upper Limb Injury or Conditions on Daily Occupations: A Qualitative Inquiry, Occupational Therapy In Health Care, DOI: 10.1080/07380577.2023.2243509
De Klerk, S., Jerosch-Herold, C., Buchanan, H., & van
Niekerk, L. (2023) Structural and cross-cultural validity of the Afrikaans for
the Western Cape Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH)
Questionnaire. Journal of Patient Reported Outcomes, 7(1): 1. https://doi.org/10.1186/s41687-022-00536-w
De Klerk, S. (2022) Assessment of structural and cross-cultural validity of the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand Questionnaire: a scoping review. Hand Therapy, 2022 (online first), DOI: 10.1177/17589983221140433
Jacobs-Nzuzi Khuabi, L., De Klerk, S. & Tapfuma, M. Occupational Therapy Intervention for Hemiplegic Shoulder Pain in Adults Post Stroke: A Zimbabwean Perspective. South African Journal of Occupational Therapy, 51(3), 54 – 62.
Visser E., De Klerk, S., Jacobs – Nzuzi Khuabi, L. & Joubert, M. (2021) Occupation-based intervention in therapy for upper limb musculoskeletal conditions: A systematic review. Hand Therapy, 26(4), 146 - 158.
De Klerk, S. & Lesch, H. (2021) Community translation in the context of translation and cross-cultural adaptation of patient reported outcome measures: a South African perspective. South African Journal of Occupational Therapy, 51(2), 104 - 106
Marume, M, De Klerk, S., & Jacobs Nzuzi-Khuabi, L. (2021) Rehabilitation following flexor tendon injury to the hand in African countries: a study protocol for a scoping review. BMJ open 11.4: e045260.
De Klerk, S., Jerosch-Herold, C., Buchanan, H., & van Niekerk, L. (2020). Cognitive interviewing during pretesting of the pre-final Afrikaans for the Western Cape Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand Questionnaire following translation and cross cultural adaptation. Occupational Therapy International, 2020:1–7. Available from: https://www.hindawi.com/journals/oti/2020/3749575/
Swanepoel, L., Grobler, Y., & de Klerk, S. (2020). Introduction of the Hirebright Cognitive Ability Test (H-CAT) as pre-employment measure in South Africa: Content and Convergent Validity. South African Journal of Occupational Therapy, 50(2), 4-10.
De Klerk, S., Eloff, L., Naudé, Z., Boon, A., Carelse, M., Steward, M., & Zaidi, M. (2019). Non-attendance of occupational and physiotherapy appointments at Western Cape Rehabilitation Centre: a description of associated factors. South African Journal of Occupational Therapy, 49(3), 54-63.
De Klerk, S.; Buchanan, H. & Jerosch-Herold, C. The Validity and Clinical Utility of the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH) Questionnaire for Upper Limb Injuries in Developing Country Contexts: A Systematic Review. Journal of Hand therapy, 2018; 31(1): 80 – 90
Hoosain, M.; De Klerk, S. & Burger, M. Workplace-based rehabilitation of upper limb conditions: A Systematic Review. Journal of Occupational Rehabilitation, 2018; May 23:1-9.
Jacobs-Nzuzi Khuabi, L., De Klerk, S. & Tapfuma, M. Occupational Therapy Intervention for Hemiplegic Shoulder Pain in Adults Post Stroke: A Zimbabwean Perspective. African Journal of Disability, June 2018
Naudé, A. B., & De Klerk, S. (2019). Introducing early active mobilisation following flexor tendon repair in the context of care in a developing country: A randomised feasibility study. South African Journal of Occupational Therapy, 49(2).
Hoosain, M., De Klerk, S., & Burger, M. (2019). Commentary: Workplace based rehabilitation for upper limb conditions in the South African context. South African Journal of Occupational Therapy, 49(2), 57-60.
De Klerk, S., Jerosch-Herold, C., Buchanan, H., & van Niekerk, L. (2019). Shared decision making and the practice of community translation in presenting a pre-final Afrikaans for the Western Cape Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH) questionnaire: a proposal for improved translation and cross-cultural adaptation. Journal of patient-reported outcomes, 3(1), 52
Teuchert, R.; De Klerk, S.; Nieuwoudt, H.C.; Otero, M.; van Zyl,
N. & Coetzé, M. Occupational therapy intervention into Osteo-Arthritis of
the Carpometacarpal joint of the thumb in the South African context. South
African Journal of Occupational Therapy, 2017; 47(1): 41-45
De Klerk, S., Buchanan, H. & Jerosch-Herold, C. (2016). The Validity and Clinical Utility of the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH) Questionnaire for Upper Limb Injuries in Developing Country Contexts: A Systematic Review. Hand, 11(1), 140S
De Klerk, S.; Badenhorst, E.; Buttle, A.; Mohammed, F. & Oberem, J (2016). Occupation Based Hand Therapy in the South African context: Challenges and Opportunities. South African Journal of Occupational Therapy, 46(3), 10 - 14
De Klerk, S., Buchanan, H., & Pretorius, B. (2015). Occupational therapy hand assessment practices: Cause for concern? South African Journal of Occupational Therapy, 45(2), 43-50.
De Klerk, S., & Coetzee, Z. (2015). The inter-rater reliability of the Smith hand function test: A South African perspective. Hand Therapy, 20(3), 88-94.
