1Associate Professor, Medical and Surgical Nursing Department, PSG College of Nursing, Coimbatore -04, TamilNadu, India
2Professor cum Principal, Adhiparasakthi College of Nursing, Melmaruvathur
Osteoarthritis is a degenerative condition that often occurs with age. Osteoarthritis causes stiffness and pain in the affected joints. Being overweight can sometimes worsen symptoms due to the greater load on the joint. There has been a remarkable increase in the growth of the elderly population. In India 5.3% of males and 4.8% of females are aged more than 65 years.
The study is to assess the Self help Techniques of Osteoarthritis among Elderly in order to identify the incidence and prevalence rate of osteoarthritis.
Descriptive Survey design
The study was conducted at various old age homes, Coimbatore.
Elderly clients with Osteoarthritis residing in old age homes of Coimbatore city
Osteoarthritis identification tool, Modified WOMAC tool used to identify the severity of Osteoarthritis, self-care management of clients with Osteoarthritis. Interview Schedule and Observational Checklist was used to assess the self care management of osteoarthritis. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyze the data.
The findings of the study revealed that highest mean score (1.852±0.354) which is 92.6% on the area of activities of daily living, 88.9% of mean score also observed for weight control (2.667±0.469). The lowest mean (0.482±0.739) which is 24.1% on the area of socialization. Overall the mean percentage was 50.118% which revealing clients had average knowledge on self help techniques of osteoarthritis. In practice score shows that, highest mean score 7, which is 70% of total score in the aspect of diet, the lowest mean score (1.22±0.860) which is 12.2% of total score in the practice of exercise. Whereas in average mean percentage was 51.067%, it seems that clients had partially adoptive practice of self help techniques. There is no significant association between patients knowledge score with demographic variables, so accept the null hypothesis in these variables. Whereas there is a significant association with education, previous occupation, type of diet and usage of any assistive devices for ambulation, so reject the null hypothesis. There is significant relationship between knowledge and practice. It can be interpreted that knowledge influences the practice of self-care among the patients with osteoarthritis.
It concluded that the education on Teaching programme of self help techniques on osteoarthritis can be given in hospital setting and community health Centers to educate the elderly clients and their care takers
Self help techniques, Elderly clients, Osteoarthritis, Old age homes
