ABSTRACT

Conclusions:

It was concluded that individuals with OA should be helped, they should be supported in OA adaptation and the negative effects of the disease should be controlled.

Results:

95.0% and 71.0% of the individuals told that they were independent while performing ADLs and IADLs, respectively. It was found that individuals who were female, at 77-89 years old, single, illiterate, housewife, had a low income level, had the disease for more than 15 years, had joint deformity and with an accompanying disease with OA or had an idea that OA affected ADLs had lower ADLs score than other groups (p<0.05). Individuals who were single, at 77-89 years old, illiterate, had joint deformity or who defined that OA affected ADLs and who received help while performing ADLs had lower ADLs score than other groups (p<0.05).

Materials and Methods:

It is a descriptive research in which 200 individuals who were diagnosed as OA participated. A questionnaire form including personal descriptive information and patient’s knowledge about the disease, Activities of Daily Living Scale (ADLs) and Instrumental Activities of Daily Living Scale (IADLs) were used as data collection tools. Data were statistically analyzed with descriptive statistics (numbers, means, standard deviation, median, percentages), Kolmogorov-Smirnov Test, Shapiro-Wilk Test, Kruskal-Wallis Variance Analysis, Mann-Whitney U Test, Cronbach’s Alpha Coefficient and Spearman’s Correlation Analysis.

Objective:

Osteoarthritis (OA) is one of the most commonly seen joint diseases and chronic diseases. This research was conducted in order to evaluate daily living activities of the individuals who were diagnosed as OA.