A Comparative study to assess the Effectiveness of selected Nursing Strategies Vs Acupressure and the Quality of Life on Osteoarthritis  among Geriatric clients residing in selected old age homes in Tamilnadu –Pilot  Study

 

Mrs. J. Bharathi1, Prof. Dr. K. Menaka2, Prof. P. Padmavathi3

1Ph. D Scholar,  Dhanvantri College of Nursing, Ganapathypuram, NO – 1 Ranganoor Road, Muniyappan Kovil, Pallakkapalyam, Namakkal District – 637 303

2Research Guide and Principal, Padmasree College of Nursing, Walajabad, Kanchipuram District.

3Principal, Dhanvantri College of Nursing, Ganapathypuram, NO – 1 Ranganoor Road, Muniyappan Kovil, Pallakkapalyam, Namakkal District – 637 303

*Corresponding Author’s Email: Bharathijk78@gmail.com

 

ABSTRACT:

Background: Osteoarthritis is the most common cause of rheumatological problem and is most frequent joint disease with high prevalence in India among geriatric clients. This is the most common cause of loco motor disability in the elderly population.  Objectives: To assess the effectiveness of selected nursing strategies Vs acupressure on osteoarthritis among geriatric clients.  Design: Two group pretest and post test true experimental design was adopted for the study.  Setting: Selected old age homes in Tamilnadu.  Participants:  30 Geriatric clients with Osteoarthritis fulfilling the inclusion criteria were selected by cluster random sampling.  Methods:  A pretest was conducted by using WOMAC scale and EQ-5D, QOL assessment scale.  Immediately after pre-test selected nursing strategies Vs acupressure was given for 8 weeks and again post test was conducted to assess the effectiveness of treatment.  Collected data was analyzed by using descriptive and inferential statistics.  Results: In post mean score of the experimental group I mean score was 55.40(SD=12.60) and the group II mean score was 65.40(SD=10.53).  This showed that the selected nursing strategies was effective than acupressure in enhancing the practice of the sample regarding Osteoarthritis and the quality of life of geriatric clients.  Conclusion:  The findings imply the need for educating geriatric clients on effective management of Osteoarthritis.

 

KEYWORDS: Effectiveness, selected nursing strategies, acupressure, osteoarthritis, geriatric clients.

 

 


INTRODUCTION:

Osteoarthritis is a disease characterized by degeneration of cartilage and its underlying bone within a joint as well as bony overgrowth.  Disease onset is gradual and usually begins after the age of 40.  There is currently no cure for OA.  Treatment for OA focuses on relieving symptoms and improving function, and can include a combination of patient education, physical therapy, weight control, and use of medications.

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a common condition which represents a major contribution to the burden of physical disability. Prevalence increases with age, so that about 11% of all women over the age of 60 yr have symptoms due to knee OA. Most knee OA is managed by primary care physicians rather than rheumatologists.(Yuqing Zhang D.Sc.,)

 

The global burden of osteoarthritis is substantial; more than 50% of people over 65 years of age have radiological evidence of osteoarthritis (Felson and Zhang 1998).  The pain and disability associated with osteoarthritis affects approximately 10% of men and 18% of women over 60 years of age.  Based on current trends, osteoarthritis is forecast to become the fourth leading cause of disability worldwide by the year 2020 (Woof and Pfleger 2003).

 

In India Osteoarthritis was present in only 50.2% of the elderly aged 65-74 years, whereas it was 97.7% in elderly aged 84 years or older,  (p<0.001). Prevalence of osteoarthritis increased as body mass index (BMI) increased.  It was 51.36% amongst elderly with BMI less than 25, whereas it increased to 100% amongst elderly with BMI equal to or more than 40 (p<0.001).  The prevalence of osteoarthritis amongst anaemic and non-anaemic males was 41.6% and 33.3%.  The similar figures for elderly females were 71.5% and 50.0% respectively.

 

PROBLEM STATEMENT:

A comparative  study to assess the effectiveness of selected nursing strategies  vs acupressure and the quality of life on osteoarthritis among geriatric clients residing in selected oldage homes in Tamil Nadu.

 

OBJECTIVES:

·       To assess the condition of osteoarthritis among experimental group I and II of geriatric clients before and after selected nursing strategies versus acupressure.

·       To compare the effectiveness of selected nursing strategies versus acupressure on osteoarthritis among geriatric clients on both the groups.

·       To assess the quality of life of geriatric clients with osteoarthritis before and after selected nursing strategies versus acupressure.

·       To find out the association between post test scores of osteoarthritis among experimental group I and II of geriatric clients with their selected demographic variables.

 

HYPOTHESIS:

H1:       There will be a significant difference in level of osteoarthritis among experimental group I and II of geriatric clients before and after selected nursing strategies versus acupressure.

H2:       There will be a significant effectiveness of selected nursing strategies versus acupressure on osteoarthritis among geriatric clients on both the groups.

H3:       There will be a significant association between post test scores of osteoarthritis among experimental group I and II of geriatric clients with their demographic variables.

 

METHODOLOGY:

Research approach: Experimental evaluative research approach

Research design: True experimental design (two group pre and posttest design)

Target population: Geriatric clients with Osteoarthritis

Accessible Population: Geriatric clients with Osteoarthritis residing in selected old age homes in Tamilnadu.

Sampling technique and sample size: Cluster random samplings, 30 samples, out of 15 were experimental group I and 15 were experimental group II

Independent Variable:  Selected Nursing strategies Vs Acupressure

Dependent Variable:  Quality of life of Geriatric clients with Osteoarthritis

 

Tool : Section A: Demographic variables

·                Section B:  WOMAC scale (Western Ontario MC Master Universities Osteoarthritis Index Scale).

·                Section C: EQ-5D QOL (European Quality-5 Dimension Quality of Life) scale used to assess the quality of life of geriatric clients with Osteoarthritis.

 

Data collection procedure:

·       Pretest was conducted by using by WOMAC Scale to assess the level of Osteoarthritis and EQ-5D questionnaire to assess the quality of life.

·       Implementing the selected Nursing Strategies in experimental group I and Acupressure in experimental group II for the duration of 20 minutes daily for 8 weeks.

·       Posttest was conducted with same pretest tool after 8 weeks.

 

Plan for data analysis

·       Descriptive Statistics: Percentage, Mean and Standard Deviation

·       Inferential Statistics: Paired ‘t’ test and repeated measures of Analysis of Variance

FINDINGS AND INTERPRETATION:

Section A: Percentage of geriatric clients with Osteoarthritis according to their demographic variables.

Experimental group-I and II shows that,

Ř Highest percentage (40% and 33.3%) of geriatric clients was in the age group of 60-65 years and 66-70 years.

Ř Gender wise distribution shows that majority of 60% were females and 40% were males.

Ř 80% and 73.3% of geriatric clients were Hindus.

Ř 60% and 66.7% of geriatric clients belongs to rural region.

Ř 40% and 53.3% of them were educated up to secondary and primary education.

Ř Marital status shows that highest percentage 46.7% and 60% of geriatric people were married.

Ř Highest percentage of geriatric client 86.7% and 60% were exposed to mass media through television.

Ř 73.3% and 86.7% of them having history of joint pain.

Ř Similar percentage (46.7% ) of geriatric client were staying in oldage home for the duration of above five years.

Ř Highest percentage 60% and 66.7% of geriatric clients experienced one knee joint pain.

 


 

 

Table:1 Frequency and percentage distribution of pre and post test scores of level of Osteoarthritis among experimental group I and II (WOMAC SCORE - CLASSIFICATION)

Geriatric Clients

Pre Test score

Post Score

Post 4th Week Score

8th Week Score

Mild

Moderate

Severe

Mild

Moderate

Severe

Mild

Moderate

Severe

Exp.

Gp I

NO

0

2

13

0

9

6

3

6

6

%

0.0

13.3

86.7

0.0

60.0

40.0

20.0

40.0

40.0

Exp.

Gp II

NO

0

0

15

0

4

11

2

7

6

%

0.0

0.0

100.0

0.0

27.0

73.0

13.0

47.0

40.0

 

Table:2 Frequency and percentage distribution of pre and post test scores of quality of life  among experimental group I and II  European QOL (CLASSIFICATION)

Group

Pre Test Scores

Post Test Scores

4th week

8th week

12th week

Low QOL

Moderate QOL

High QOL

Low QOL

Moderate QOL

High QOL

Low QOL

Moderate QOL

High QOL

Low QOL

Moderate QOL

High QOL

Exp

Gp I

NO

7

6

2

8

3

4

0

10

5

0

2

13

 %

46.7

40.0

13.3

53.3

20.0

26.7

0.0

66.7

33.3

0.0

13.3

86.7

Exp

Gp II

NO

5

10

0

5

10

0

0

14

1

0

12

3

 %

33.3

66.7

0.0

33.3

66.7

0.0

0.0

93.3

6.7

0.0

80.0

20.0

 

Table:3 Comparison of mean and SD distribution of pre and post test scores among experimental group I and II  (WOMAC SCORE - CLASSIFICATION)

WOMAC scale scores

Experimental Group I

Experimental Group II

Mean

SD

Mean

SD

Pre test

68.67

14.40

74.40

8.70

4th week post test

64.93

14.11

68.60

9.83

8th week post test

55.40

12.60

55.40

12.60

 

Table:4 Comparison of mean and SD distribution of pre and post test scores among experimental group I and II  ( QOL Scale)

QOL scale scores

Experimental Group I

Experimental Group II

Mean

SD

Mean

SD

Pre test

4.20

1.86

4.00

0.93

4th week post test

4.20

2.24

3.73

0.80

8th week post test

5.73

1.79

5.07

0.96

12th week post test

8.73

1.53

5.73

1.44

 

Table: 5 Comparison of group1- Selected Nursing Interventions and Group2 - Acupressure for severity of Osteoarthrirtis and QOL of geriartic clients

Measure

Group

Mean

Std. Error

95% Confidence Interval

Mean Difference

Lower Bound

Upper Bound

WOMAC

Experimental group  I

58.717

2.594

53.404

64.030

7.550*

Experimental group  II

66.267

2.594

60.954

71.580

QOL

Experimental group I

5.717

.319

5.063

6.370

1.083*

Experimental group  II

4.633

.319

3.980

5.287

*p<0.05

 

CONCLUSION:

By using the repeated measure of analysis of variance the values was significant (p<0.05) which shows that selected nursing strategies  group was better than acupressure group and by measuring the Osteoarthritis  severity by using WOMAC scale, from the period of 8th week the Osteoarthritis severity was declining and in 12th week onwards the Osteoarthritis  clients Quality of Life was thriving which was measured by using EQ-5D quality of life scale.  The study result shows that,

·       Highly significant association was found between post tests scores of Osteoarthritis symptoms among both the groups.

·       No significant association was found between post test and their demographic variables of both the groups among geriatric clients with Osteoarthritis.

 

DISCUSSION:

In experimental group I the post test the mean score was 55.40, in experimental group II the mean score was 65.40 which reveals the difference of 10%.  The reduction of  severity of Osteoarthritis symptoms was effective in selected nursing strategies group than acupressure group.  There was significant difference between Osteoarthritis symptoms in experimental group I compared to experimental group II (P<0.05).  Conclusion:  It seems that selected nursing strategies are effective in improvement of quality of life of geriatric clients with Osteoarthritis.

 

 

REFERENCES:

1.     Alacqua M, Trifiro G, Cavagna L, Caporali R, Montecucco CMK, Moretti S,. Arthritis and Rheumatism.  2008; 59(4); 568-74.

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7.     Jamshidi AR, et.al, Clinical Hand Osteoarthritis in Tehran: Prevalence, Signs, Symptoms, and pattern.

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NET REFERENCE

9.     http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/osteoarthritis/DS00019>Osteoarthritis</a>

10.  “Hand out on health-Osteoarthritis”, http://www.niams.nih.gov

11.  http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/topic/world health organization.

12.  http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/topic/sports

 

 

 

 

Received on 03.12.2015          Modified on 25.12.2015

Accepted on 15.01.2016          © A&V Publication all right reserved

Int. J. Adv. Nur. Management. 2016; 4(2): 107-110.

DOI: 10.5958/2454-2652.2016.00024.X