To investigate the degree of physical disability, 129 patients diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis were examined form August 7 to August 13, 1994 through interviews by questionnaires.
The data were analysed by the use of frequency, t-test, ANOVA, Pearson Correlation Coefficients and stepwise multiple regression.
The result of this study were summarized as follows :
1. The range of total physical disability scores was 45 points to 164 points and the mean score of that was 85.9 points. In comparison of mean scores depending on each item of 8 dimension, mean scores of each items tended to show the higher scores in order of, ’rising(2.25)’, ’general activities(2.22)’, ’walking(2.05)’.
2. The range of total depression scores was 2 points to 5 points and the mean scores of that was 21.2 points. The range of total social support was 65 points to 158 points and the mean scores of that was 116.8 points.
3. The total physical disability scores showed significant differences in the variables of Age(F=4.14, p=.018), Sex(t=11.98, p=.001), Marital Status(t=4.70, p=.032), Admission Experience(F=6.43, p=.012), and Number of involved joints(F=18.08, p=.000), but didn’t show significant difference in variables, Duration of Disease9F=1.23, p=.297), Education Level(F=2.52, p=.084).
Therefore the hypothesis, ’the total physical disability scores will be different according to the variables of age, education level, marital status, sex, duration of disease, admission experience level, number of involved joints’ was partially supported.
4. The hypothesis, ’the higher the depression scores, the higher the physical disability scores’ was supported(r=.438, p=.000)
5. The hypothesis, ’the higher the social support scores, the lower the physical disability scores’ wes supported(r=-.329, p=.000)
6. By using stepwise multiple regression analysis it was determined that the main influencing factors on the physical disability were ’number of involved joints’, ’depression’ and ’social support’. These variables made it possible to explain 33.5% of variance in physical disability.
|