Effect of educational program on knowledge and self-care behavior among arthritis patients: Pre-experimental research design.

BACKGROUND

Arthritis is a chronic condition of the joints and taking medicine alone cannot be effective in getting better result as there is no cure of the disease. Understanding the condition and the steps necessary to limit the disease's progression increases the practice of self-care behaviours, which are crucial for halting the disease's progression and sustaining quality of life.

OBJECTIVE

The study aimed to assess the effectiveness of a nurse led educational program on knowledge and self-care behavior among arthritis patients.

METHODS

This study used a single group pre-test and post-test, pre-experimental research design and selected 210 study participants using a convenient sampling technique at OPD of Ortho and Medicine department, Nims Medical College and Hospital, Nims University, Rajasthan, Jaipur, India.After pretest, patients participated in a four session of nurse led educational program, then post test was conducted after three months.

RESULTS

The result shows that there was significant improvement in knowledge and self-care behavior among arthritis patients after the supportive educational program (p = 0.001).

CONCLUSION

The nurse led educational program can be seen as useful aid in raising knowledge and self-care behavior for the management of disease among patients.