Abstract
The present study elucidates the preoperative and postoperative life experiences of patients undergoing total hip arthroplasty (THA) . In addition, in order to clarify the condition of postoperative daily living, we analyzed living conditions following discharge and quantitatively assessed activity levels. Semi-structured interviews, observations, and measurements of activity levels were performed for a total of 17 patients who had undergone primary THA one year earlier. The life experiences of patients included "restrictions in life due to severe pain" preoperatively, "release from pain and concern regarding the artificial joint" at discharge, and "coming to terms and coping with the artificial joint" one year postoperatively. Based on comparison of experiences by age and social roles, the following three groups were identified: "late elderly individuals", "early elderly individuals and middle-aged housewives" , and "employed middle-aged individuals" .Comparison of median activity levels showed that employed middle-aged individuals had higher activity levels (5.71 METs-hours/day) than late elderly individuals (1.68 METs-hours/day) . These findings indicate the importance of providing nursing care that considers the individual characteristics of patients, such as their preoperative and postoperative life experiences, living conditions, and activity levels.
