[The effects of a self-management program on physical function and quality of life of patients with knee osteoarthritis].
OBJECTIVE
This study was to examine the effects of a Self-management program on physical function and quality of life of women with knee osteoarthritis.


METHODS
The participants for this study, who had knee osteoarthritis, were recruited from an arthritis clinic, at a university hospital located in S city, Korea between February 16, 2004 and June 15, 2004. Seventeen subjects in the control group received no intervention and 18 subjects in for experimental group received an individual Self-management program. The self-management program consisted of dietary education and home-based exercise; walking and resistance exercise. The subjects performed this program 5 times per week during 8 weeks and recorded a diary for diet and exercise. In order to verify the effects of the Self-management program, physical function and Quality of life as a dependent variable were measured at three points in time: before, week 4 and week 8 after the interventions.


RESULTS
There were significant increases on physical function (F=5.08, p=.002) and significant interaction effects (F=7.42, p=.002) in the intervention group over the three measurement points in time. In addition, there were significant increases on quality of life (F=8.08, p=.002) and significant interaction effects (F=4.89, p=.016) in the intervention group over the three measurement points in time.


CONCLUSIONS
This study revealed that a Self-management program can be used as an efficient nursing intervention for women with knee osteoarthritis.
Cheon
Eui Young
EY
Department of Nursing, Ajou University, Suwon, Korea. astra1020@hanmail.net
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D004032:Diet; D005081:Exercise Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D020370:Osteoarthritis, Knee / Q000628:therapy*; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D011788:Quality of Life; D012648:Self Care