Effects of Self-Help Program in Daily Living and Self-Care Activities, Flexibility, Grip Strength and Depression in Patients having Chronic Arthritis

자조관리과정이 만성관절염 환자의 일상생활과 자기간호활동, 유연성, 악력 및 우울에 미치는 효과

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of self-help program on patients with chronic arthritis. This study was performed from 13th of August to 29th of October 2002. 30 arthritis patients with an average age of 56 years were participated in the self-help program. At the completion of 6 weeks, 23 patients completed both pretest and posttest, overall dropout rate was 23%. Outcome measures were status of daily living, self-care activities, flexibility, grip strength and depression. Data were analysed by percentage, paired t-test, Pearson's correlation coefficient. There were statistically significant in self-care activities, flexibility, grip strength after the self-help program. However no significant differences were found in daily living and depression. There were significant relationships between daily living and depression. There were significant relationships between right flexibility & left flexibility and right and left grip strength. In conclusion self-help program was proved to be an effective nursing intervention to increase the self-care activities, flexibility and grip strength. These results of this study suggested that the follow-up program after the self-help program should be run to help the physical psychological wellbeing of arthritis patients.