Date of Award
Fall 2013
Degree Type
Thesis
Department
Nursing
First Advisor
Patricia Hart
Second Advisor
Nicole Mareno
Abstract
Purpose: To identify if patients’ perceptions of their functional abilities prior to Total Knee Arthroplasty (TKA) were similar to their actual post-operative functional abilities at 4 to 6 weeks post-TKA if they attended an educational joint replacement class prior to surgery.
Design: One group, pre-test/post-test.
Methods: Data were obtained from 17 participants attending an educational joint replacement class in Georgia. Patients’ perceptions of functional abilities before and after TKA were identified using the Knee Outcome Survey Activities of Daily Living Scale (KOS-ADLS), Short Form 12 version 2 (SF-12 v2), and a demographics questionnaire.
Results: KOS-ADLS findings were statistically significant 2.32(7), p = 0.027, SF-12 v2 physical health findings were not statistically significant (t = 0.18, p = 0.865) and SF-12 v2 mental health findings were not statistically significant (t = 1.59, p = 0.157).
Conclusion: The KOS-ADLS revealed improved change in knee symptoms and function over a 4-week period. However, SF-12 v2 did not make this determination. Future research should use a repeated measures design (8 and 12 weeks, and 6 months) and a specific instrument to measure the impact of the educational joint replacement class.