Health Related Quality of Life for Patients with Knee Osteoarthritis

Abstract

Osteoarthritis is a chronic disease characterized by joint pain, tenderness, and limitation of movement. At present, no cure is available. Thus, only treatment of the person's symptoms and treatments to prevent further development of the disease are possible. Trials indicate that aquatic exercise may have advantages for people with osteoarthritis. These practices include non-pharmacological treatments such as providing patient education, advising weight loss, and practice of some exercises and activities such as walking(Eustice, 2015). Quality of life research for older adults with OA has primarily focused on health related quality of life which has included physical function and health status. This conceptualization the lack of inclusion of outcomes has resulted in a gap in our understanding of quality of life for OA patients (Farr, Miller and Block, 2013). Nurses play a vital role in helping people with arthritis. Because OA is a chronic lifelong irreversible condition,that have a role in providing nursing care for them. One of the most vital roles of the nurse is to develop a good rapport with those suffering from this OA condition that can be painful, disfiguring, and greatly inhibit regular ADL (Yvette and Terrie, 2015).