The Journal of

Abstract

Introduction: Knee Osteoarthritis is the most common age-related causes of knee pain which can induce disability, disablement and reduced quality of life. Therefore, the present study aimed to determine attitudes and self-care behaviors of knee osteoarthritis patients referred to three Rheumatology Clinical Centers in Yazd.

Methods: This descriptive-analytical study was carried out on 235 patients referred to Health Care Centers of Yazd who were selected randomly. In order to glean the study data, a researcher-designed questionnaire was utilized probing into demographic variables as well as patients' attitudes and self-care behaviors. The reliability and validity of the questionnaire were approved, as well. The study data were analyzed applying SPSS software (ver. 18) via T-Test, ANOVA, Pearson correlation coefficient at 0.05 of the significant level.

Results: The participants' mean age and Mean BMI were reported 54.90±9.15 and 28.8±4.61, respectively. Mean score of patients' attitude toward self-care was 47.4±3.95 out of 55 and the mean score of their self-care behaviors was 43.11±5.75 out of 60, which the both scores were at a moderate level. Furthermore, a positive significant correlation was detected between attitude and self-care behaviors (p=0.01). Within different self-care behaviors, participants' attitude towards the positive effect of using crutches while walking was at the lowest level. Meanwhile, according to the patients' attitude, using crutches was demonstrated to have the least performance within the self-care behaviors.

Conclusion: Based on the findings of the present study, the attitude level can cause an increase in the patients' self-care behaviors. Moreover, since the participants' attitude towards such behaviors as using crutches, using pool and weight loss were at a low level, interventional programs are recommended to emphasize the mentioned issues.

Keywords: Attitude; Knee osteoarthritis; Performance; Self-care behaviors

Introduction: Self-care is one of the important aspects of treatment in Multiple Sclerosis. So, regarding the necessity of attention to facts, and the determinants of one behavior for the purpose of maximizing the effect of interventional program, the study was conducted aimed to determining self-care status of Multiple Sclerosis and related factors to these behaviors based on the health belief model.

Methods: The design of the study was descriptive correlational. One hundred and twenty patients were selected by simple random sampling from patients who were the member of MS assembly of Yazd. The instrument of data collection was a questionnaire which evaluated factors related to self-care behaviors in MS disease which was included the patient's perception of the signs and constructs of health belief model and self-care behaviors. Data were analyzed using Pearson Correlation, ANOVA, t-test, Spearman correlation, and multiple regression analysis in SPSS software 20.

Results: On average, participants performed 51.47 percent of self-care behaviors. Among different fields of self-care behaviors, the use of small weights for the decrease in ataxia and shake hands and feet, devoted regular time to urination, and the performance of proper exercises were of less frequency. The predictive power of perceived severity and cues to action was significant and the perceived severity was the strongest predictor. Meanwhile, all the constructs of health belief model predicted 9.8 percent changes in the self-care behaviors.

Conclusion: With regard to the fact that the most important factors related to the self-care were identified perceived severity and cues to action, it is essential to be emphasized more on perceived severity and cues to action intervention programs. In other words, with regard to the low predictive power of health belief model, it is recommended to be used of other models in next studies.