| Abstract [eng] |
Osteoarthritis is a very common joint disease. Main symptom of osteoarthritis is chronic pain. Psychological adaptation to this disease can be defined in terms of life quality. Development of quality of life is an essential task in treatment process, that is why it is important to find out what factors are related to the life quality of patients with osteoarthritis. The aim of this research was to estimate life quality of patients with osteoarthritis and analyze how it relates to characteristics of pain and methods patients engage in order to cope with it. 43 patients suffering from osteoarthritis took part in this research. Participants were from various health centres and sanatoriums [čia tipo taip reabilitacija vadinama.. bet gal galima rehabilitation centres, manau..]. To measure life quality, Medical Outcomes Study Short Form – 36 was used. In order to find out the intensity of pain Visual Analog Scales (VAS) were used. The quality of pain was measured with Joint Pain Questionnaire and in order to find out how patients cope with pain we used Coping Strategies Questionaire CSQ. Research shows that patients with osteoarthritis experience medium level of pain (VAS – 57,33) and they assess it as pesky, keeping out from sleep, nagging, stinging. Life quality is lower than of healthy people and similar to life quality of patients suffering from other rheumatoidic diseases (rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus). Fields of life quality whitch got lowest ratings were – decreased behavioral activities due to physical problems, pain and evaluation of health overall. Higher intensity of pain is related to lower ratings of physical life quality. Use of adaptive coping strategies (increased behavioral activities, ignoring sensations) is related to higher life quality and lower intensity of pain. Use of nonadaptive coping strategy (catastrophising) has positive correlation with lower psychical life quality and emotional status. |
