Evaluation of Efficiency Independence Skills Development for Women with Rheumatoid Arthritis

The aim of the research is to evaluate the effectiveness of self-sufficiency skills empowerment for women with rheumatoid arthritis. Methods. 50 subjects – all female – attending Klaipeda community „Artritas“ and... [ view full abstract ]

The aim of the research is to evaluate the effectiveness of self-sufficiency skills empowerment for women with rheumatoid arthritis.
Methods. 50 subjects – all female – attending Klaipeda community „Artritas“ and Kaunas community for the people suffering from arthritis, were involved in this study. Respondents were divided into two groups: direct training and indirect training. Each group consisted of 25 individuals. Respondents of the direct training group had been learning independent living skills by occupational therapist. Respondents of the indirect training group were given recommendations to increase self-sufficiency, protect the joints and reduce a fatigue. Self-sufficiencywas evaluated by applying the Canadian Occupational Performance Measure (COPM), motility of hands and fingers – bydynamometer and manometer,quality of life – by SF-36 questionnaire, pain intensity – by visual analogue scale of pain (VAS) and fatigue – by Fatigue Impact Scale (FIS).
Conclusions. Activity problems in women with rheumatoid arthritiswere found mostly in the self-service area and at least in leisure. A comparison of both groups before applyingself-sufficiencyskills and after it, showed that the self-sufficiency training with the occupational therapist (OT) has more positive influence on its increasing in individuals with rheumatoid arthritis. Applying of the direct trainingleads to the greater results of the grips‘ motility, quality of life and decrease of the fatigue and pain, than in the indirect one. Improvement of the self-sufficiency is related to the better grips‘ function and quality of life in respondents and it is related to the pain and fatigue decrease, too.