Su-Ru Chen1, Chyang-Shiong Chen, Pi-Chu Lin. 1. School of Nursing, Master program in Long-term care, College of Nursing, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan.
Abstract
AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: To determine the effects of health education on postoperative pain, the practice of rehabilitative exercises and functional recovery of total knee-replacement patients. BACKGROUND: Most total knee-replacement patients experience pain and limited physical activities during recovery and rehabilitation. Many patients fail to implement an effective rehabilitation plan because of the pain and a lack of practical knowledge regarding the rehabilitation process. DESIGN: Quasi-experimental design. METHODS: We recruited 92 total knee-replacement patients for our study. The experimental group (n = 42) received a health-educational intervention. The control group (n = 50) received routine care. RESULTS: The experimental group reported lower levels of postoperative pain than the control group. The stair-climbing ability of the experimental group was superior to that of the control group. The experimental group also had superior scores for regular straight-leg raises and muscle power of the affected leg, compared with the control group. CONCLUSION: The preoperative health-educational intervention reduced the level of postoperative pain experience by total knee-replacement patients, increased the regularity with which they performed rehabilitative exercises and accelerated the recovery of their physical functioning. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: The health-educational model can be included in regular clinical management and care of total knee-replacement patients.
RCT Entities:
AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: To determine the effects of health education on postoperative pain, the practice of rehabilitative exercises and functional recovery of total knee-replacement patients. BACKGROUND: Most total knee-replacement patients experience pain and limited physical activities during recovery and rehabilitation. Many patients fail to implement an effective rehabilitation plan because of the pain and a lack of practical knowledge regarding the rehabilitation process. DESIGN: Quasi-experimental design. METHODS: We recruited 92 total knee-replacement patients for our study. The experimental group (n = 42) received a health-educational intervention. The control group (n = 50) received routine care. RESULTS: The experimental group reported lower levels of postoperative pain than the control group. The stair-climbing ability of the experimental group was superior to that of the control group. The experimental group also had superior scores for regular straight-leg raises and muscle power of the affected leg, compared with the control group. CONCLUSION: The preoperative health-educational intervention reduced the level of postoperative pain experience by total knee-replacement patients, increased the regularity with which they performed rehabilitative exercises and accelerated the recovery of their physical functioning. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: The health-educational model can be included in regular clinical management and care of total knee-replacement patients.