Effects of the Supportive Program on the Chronic Arthritis Patients

지지 프로그램이 만성 관절염환자의 생리적, 사회$\cdot$심리적 상태와 건강지각에 미치는 효과

The purpose of this study is to identify the effects of the supportive program for arthritis patients. who are attending a rheumatoid arthritis clinic. To achieve this purpose. this study adopted a quasi-experimental. pre- and post-test research design. comparing experimental group with control one. Supportive program was composed of in-depth. 3 times of direct interview and 2 times of advice using telephone for 8 weeks. The object of these interviews and phone was focused on the improvement of patients' preception for health. During this period. the level of pain, hemato-immunologic indices(ESR, CRP). self-efficacy, depression. and perception for health were measured in both grooups. Data were analysed by $x^2-test$, t-test. repeated measures ANOVA and Pearson's correlations. The results were as follows : 1. There were no significant differences in physiological data. 2. The feeling of self-efficacy was significantly increased in experimental group(P=.012), 3. There was no significant differences in depression. 4. The perception for health status was significantly increased in experimental group(P=.002). Thus, the supportive program. which is focused on the close interpersonal communication. proved to be effective. This result justifies the following suggestion that the role of the nursing professionals in out-patient clinic should be extended for more qualified care for the patients.