Anxiety and health-related quality of life of patients undergoing total hip arthroplasty for osteoarthritis.
OBJECTIVE
Osteoarthritis in a hip not only causes pain and decreases physical function, which are the most common reasons for total hip arthroplasty, but also causes anxiety and reduces patients' health-related quality of life (HRQoL). The objective of this study was to evaluate patients' anxiety and its possible relationship with HRQoL before and after surgery.


METHODS
In this longitudinal follow-up study, the State Trait Anxiety Inventory was used to measure patients' (n = 100) level of anxiety before surgery and at 1 month, 3 months and 6 months post-operatively. The Sickness Impact Profile was used to measure patients' total HRQoL before surgery and post-operatively at 3 and 6 months.


RESULTS
Before surgery, patients' trait and state anxiety were moderate. Patients' pre-operative trait anxiety impaired HRQoL both before and after surgery. After surgery, state anxiety remained at a moderate level, although a few minor peaks were observed, but no relationship between state anxiety and HRQoL was found.


CONCLUSIONS
Patients' needs and characteristics should be carefully assessed when planning post-operative care and support. Nurses should be aware of factors that may relate to anxiety and also consider different methods of supporting patients' recovery.
Montin
Liisa
L
Department of Nursing Science, University of Turku, 20014, Finland. liisa.montin@utu.fi
Leino-Kilpi
Helena
H
Katajisto
Jouko
J
Lepistö
Jyri
J
Kettunen
Jyrki
J
Suominen
Tarja
T
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001007:Anxiety; D019644:Arthroplasty, Replacement, Hip; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015207:Osteoarthritis, Hip / Q000601:surgery*; D011788:Quality of Life