2018 Volume 18 Issue 4 Pages 260-263
It is said that the most effective evidence-based therapies for osteoarthritis of the knee (KOA) are patient education, weight loss, and exercise. However, advice from nurses on lifestyle modifications for treating KOA is not popular when compared to similar counseling for treating internal diseases. In August 2011, we launched a team to provide total support for KOA (team TS-KOA), in which nurses from the outpatient department (OPD) tried to take more of a role in patient education for treating KOA. First, we prepared a checklist including risk factors of KOA and made 5 brochures to educate patients about each risk factor. The potential recipients of the education included patients over 40 years old who required knee examination on MRI and patients who underwent total knee arthroplasty. The number of patients who met the requirements from September 2012 to January 2013 were 303. Of these, 91 patients filled out the checklist, and 71 received the guidance of an OPD nurse. A majority of these patients were interested in the education and the OPD nurses felt satisfied with the improvement in patient-nurse relationships. Therefore, we concluded that education of patients with KOA by OPD nurses was an effective approach for both patients and nurses. Further evaluation of the results of this education is needed to improve team TS-KOA's approach.
