Assessment of health problems of patients with osteoarthritis and the need for support and medical education

Introduction. Osteoarthritis causes a lot of physical, psychological and social problems, especially in elder patients. The main goal of
medical care is lessening pain, anxiety, improvement of joint function and limiting disablement.

Aim of the study. The aim of the study was to identify the major health problems in osteoarthritis patients; determine the deficit of self-care;
determine the nurturing, protective and educative tasks of nurse in their work with osteoarthritis patients.

Material and methods. The study group consisted of 100 randomly chosen patients with diagnosed osteoarthritis according to the ACR
criteria. The basic research tool was a survey questionnaire and Disability Index HAQ-DI (0–3), Lequesne Index (0–24), Western Ontario and
MacMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index WOMAC (0–100), Visual-Analogue Pain Assessment Scale VAS (0–100).

Results. Symptoms of osteoarthritis concerned mainly joints of spine (51%), hands (49%), hips (43%) and knees (41%). The most unbearable
health problem was pain (82%), 64% of subjects reported pain very often (WOMAC A — 56.86, pain during movement [VAS] — 61.14,
pain during rest [VAS] — 47.33, p £ 0.05). Along with age of subjects the dependence on support of other increased (WOMAC A — 79.4,
WOMAC B — 84.06, WOMAC C — 86.3, Lequesne — 20.75, HAQ — 2.6, p £ 0.05). In total, 51 subjects reported serious, permanent impediment
of joints function and joint mobility (WOMAC C — 71.48, Lequesne — 17.47, HAQ — 1.9, p £ 0.05). Individually performed physical
exercises were rare. Most of respondents (n = 65) frequently reported low mood, sense of social isolation and limitation in fulfilling life roles.

Conclusion. In the view of performed study and analysis of results there have been formulated conclusions which indicate multi-faceted of problem of
osteoarthritis patients, the need for help in everyday activities and deficit of knowledge concerning the illness and it impact on lack of patients’ self-care.

Nursing Topics 2011; 19 (3): 353–360