title: Qualitative study of osteoarthritis patients' experience before and after total hip arthroplasty in Japan.
abstract: Quantitative studies on the quality of life of patients with osteoarthritis (OA) after total hip arthroplasty (THA) have focused on functional improvement and pain reduction, but patients' perspectives of THA have not been examined in detail. The aim of our study was to investigate, describe, and analyze patients' experience before and after THA by using a qualitative research method. Twenty patients with OA who had undergone primary THA were recruited for this study. The qualitative data obtained were analyzed using content analysis. Participants reported dramatic improvements in pain and disability. However, detailed interviews disclosed problems that the participants faced during the preoperative period, such as an inferiority complex related to abnormal posture. During the postoperative period, some participants suffered from distress over body image related to the artificial joint. This report also suggests possible nursing interventions to deal with these problems.
authors.affiliation: Division of Nursing, Faculty of Medicine, Saga University, Saga, Japan. fujitak@cc.saga-u.ac.jp
authors.forename: Kimie
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Fujita
authors.forename: Kiyoko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Makimoto
authors.forename: Takao
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hotokebuchi
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000368:Aged; D019644:Arthroplasty, Replacement, Hip / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000523:psychology*; D001294:Attitude to Health / Q000208:ethnology; D001828:Body Image; D006233:Persons with Disabilities / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D051346:Mobility Limitation; D024802:Nurse's Role; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D015207:Osteoarthritis, Hip / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology* / Q000601:surgery; D010146:Pain / Q000209:etiology; D019990:Perioperative Care / Q000451:nursing / Q000523:psychology; D011187:Posture; D011287:Prejudice; D036301:Qualitative Research; D011788:Quality of Life; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012944:Social Support; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires