• Journal of muscle and joint health
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.142-155
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• 2003

The purpose of this study was to investigate the rate of utilization, kinds and effective complementary-alternative therapy in elder arthritics, and then utilize the results as basic data for nursing intervention for elder arthritics. Study subjects consisted of 157 elder arthritics over 60 years old, data were collected through a structured questionnaire and face to face interviews. Data collection was done from July 2001 to August 2001. Subjects were sampled out from outpatients of department of rehabilitation of a university hospital in S city, outpatients of a local hospital in D city, and outpatient at public heath center in K and S city. Sexual distribution of subjects showed male 19.1% and the female 80.9%. The diagnosis distribution showed degenerative arthritis at 91% and reumatoid arthritis at 8.9% Duration of arthritics was 10 years over by 46.5%, duration of hospital treatment was 1-5 years by 41% The degree of pain by arthritis pointed out a mean point of 3.37 on a 5-point numeric scale 94.2% of subjects have experience complementary-alternative therapies used. Of the kind the subjects used, physiotherapy occupied 38.2%, Oriental medicine 36.3%, physical exercise 35.7%, nutritional therapy 22.3%, animal diet 8.9%, herbal diet 3.8%. The hardest thing due to arthritis represented disability in daily life by 59.8% and the pain problem by 30.5%. In conclusion, results of the study reveal that elder arthritics have used physiotherapy, Oriental medicine, physical exercise. Concrete strategies for nursing intervention about these complementary-alternative therapy are required to the established soon.

• Journal of muscle and joint health
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.16-27
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• 2005

Purpose: This study was to investigate the using pattern of alternative therapies in chronic arthritics. Method: We interviewed 192 Arthritis patients lived in the metropolitan area with structured questionnaire from August to september in 2004. Data were analyzed statistically by using SPSS program. Result: Results were summarized as follows; 1. 89.0% of subjects had utilized one or more types of alternative therapies 80.8% of these patients did not consult a nurse or doctor with using alternative therapies. 2. 87.7% of subjects obtained information of using the alternative therapy from similar patients, their families or relatives etc. The most frequently used types of alternative therapies are hand acupuncture(58.0%), bathing(29.6%), massage(25.4%) taping therapy(13.0%). 3. After using alternative therapies, over 80% of subjects answered that they were satisfied to effects of alternative therapies and only 9.4% of them responded that they experienced side effects from use of alternative therapies. Conclusion: results of the study showed that most of patients with arthritis have used alternative therapies, they were satisfied to effect of using alternative therapies. Therefore, many research for use of alternative therapy and the development of standardized protocol of nursing intervention appling alternative therapy need to be achieved.

• Journal of muscle and joint health
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.41-52
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• 2008

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to study Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) used among degenerative arthritis patients in Korea. Method: This study used a descriptive survey method. Study subjects of the study were 278 degenerative arthritics selected from hospitals located in Kyungpook province and Daegu city. Data were collected between February 15, 2007 and March 31, 2007. Results: 62.6% of degenerative arthritics had used CAM. Manipulative Methods has shown to be one of the most effective methods on CAM. The utilization of CAM may be interpreted mainly due to the desperate need find therapeutics of their disease by all possible means (57.5%). Major factors that affect the decision of the patient include family, relatives, friends(42%), and the other patients who were in the similar circumstance (32.8%). Effectiveness of CAM has shown the following result "for complete cure of symptoms(77.0%), for health promotion (42.0%) and for psychological stabilization (29.9%)". 43.7% of the patients answered that they stopped of using CAM because of non-effectiveness. Conclusion: This study found that CAM among degenerative arthritic patients was a popular alternative method. Therefore, some nursing-oriented intervention method is needed together with a systematic guidelines of CAM usage is required.

• Journal of Korean Physical Therapy Science
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• v.5 no.4
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• pp.845-850
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• 1998

The purpose of those study is to estimate grip and hand activity of RA patients and find that the evaluation is very a valuable to the RA patients. The term of the evaluation was from June 25. 1998.. to July 30. 1998 and researched at Hanyang university Rheumatic Hospital. This study researched 100 normal people and 85 RA patients and analyzed the results and averaged those with t-test by Excel data. The results of those study are as follows. 1. The highest percent of those results of the dynamometer, pinch research was the people who are on 40s. 2. The results of all RA patients marked lower than those of normal people. 3. It's difficult to do hard work such as washing, opening can, transferring boxes to the patients. 4. The above research is effective to RA patients.