Effect of Self-Management and Home Remedy on Symptoms of Rheumatoid Arthritis among Elderly Clients

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Lecturer of Community Health Nursing- Faculty of Nursing- Menoufia University

2 Lecturer of Community Health Nursing - Faculty of Nursing- Menoufia University

10.12816/0029171

Abstract

Background: Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic inflammatory condition affecting the joints. It
exerts a significant burden on the individual and community. Arthritis care offers selfmanagement
training courses. It includes keeping active, looking after the joints, using heated
pads, using a cold pack, complementary therapies and massage. Aim of the study: was to
examine the effect of self-management and home remedy on symptoms of rheumatoid
arthritis among elderly clients. Subjects & Methods: Research design: A quasiexperimental
design with pre and posttest was adopted. Setting: This study was carried out
at the outpatient clinics in comprehensive medical center and university hospital in Shebin
Elkom City, Menoufia Governorate, Egypt. Subjects: A total of 90 elderly clients recruited
from outpatient clinics. Tools of data collection: A Structured interviewing questionnaire and
Affected and non-affected joints pain assessment sheet. Results: The mean age of the
participants was 66.8 years old. Fifty percent of them had a family history of arthritis. There
were a significant reduction of joints swelling, redness, duration of stiffness, and feeling of
fatigue from pre to post test (p < 0.05*). Majority of the elderly clients felt better with rest, splint,
hot compresses and massage with ointments. The home remedy affected positively on the
pulse, systolic and diastolic blood pressure besides reducing their joints pain and swelling.
Conclusion: The present study concluded that after intervention elderly clients who used
self-management measures had a significant reduction of rheumatoid arthritis joints pain,
swelling, redness, and stiffness. Additionally, home remedy and self-management affected
positively on pulse and blood pressure of the clients besides reducing their arthritis pain.
Recommendations: Encourage the elderly clients to use the self-management measures to
reduce RA joints pain. Also combination between self-management measures and home
remedy are effective.

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