The effectiveness of self-care training in a combined method on the nature of pain and daily activities of patients with knee osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common joint disorder in adults, which gradually reduces the joints and increases the pain, leading to disability in daily activities. The purpose of the study is to determine the effectiveness of self-care training in a combined method on the nature of pain and daily activities of patients with knee osteoarthritis.

In this semi-experimental study, 70 patients with osteoarthritis of the knee referred to the Orthopedic and Rheumatology Clinic in Ahvaz were randomly divided into two self-care training groups using a combined method and a control group based on the inclusion criteria. The control group received self-care training in the usual way. In the test group, self-care training was conducted by a combined method (film, lecture, use of pamphlets, SMS) during 5 sessions in groups and individually. The research samples were followed up in person and by phone for three months. The data of the study were completed by using three questionnaires on the nature of Mag Gill pain, pain intensity VAS and WOMAC daily activity before, during one month, two months, and three months after the intervention. The results of the study were analyzed using SPSS 23 software and using descriptive and inferential statistical tests.

Self-care training in a combined method caused a significant decrease in the intensity of pain in the intervention group compared to the control group (P=0.001). Daily activity showed a significant difference between the two intervention and control groups (P=0.001), which indicates improvement in activity in the intervention group. However, there was no significant change in the nature of pain after the intervention compared to before (P=0.01).

According to the results of the research, combined training can be used for self-care and disease management to improve and modify the lifestyle, and improve the health and performance of patients.