Development of the Management Model for Osteoarthritis among Elderly in Chumphuang District, Nakhon Ratchasima Province

Abstract

This research and development project was conducted during February and July 2022. The objectives were to 1) study the situations of osteoarthritis in elderly, 2) develop the management model for osteoarthritis among elderly in Chumphuang district, Nakhon Ratchasima province, and 3) evaluate the management model for osteoarthritis. Samples in this study were selected using purposive sampling method and were consisted of: 1) 1,870 elderly, 2) 90 community leaders, village health volunteers (VHV) and caregivers of the elderly with knee osteoarthritis, and 3) 25 doctors, nurses, physical therapists, Thai traditional medical doctor, and public health professionals, and 4) 86 elderly with osteoarthritis people with osteoarthritis who had never undergone knee replacement surgery and without knee joints swelling, redness and hot. Research tools were consisted of: 1) the Oxford Knee Score Assessment Form, 2) focus group discussion guidelines, 3) the modified WOMAC score questionnaire, and 4) disease prevention and control behavior questionnaire with content validity of 1.0 and 0.76 and reliability of 0.92 and 0.90 respectively. The quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive and paired t-test statistics. The qualitative data were analyzed using content analysis. The results showed that: 1) The proportion of the elderly with osteoarthritis of the knee was 37.91 percent; 2) the model for osteoarthritis management in the elderly was consisted of screening, promotion and prevention, primary treatment, home visit, academic supports from hospitals, and equipment and budget supports from local government organizations; 3) results from using of the management model for osteoarthritis in elderly showed that the modified WOMAC scores, pain, stiffness scores, total scores, and pain level scores decreased significantly at p-value<0.05.