AB1105-HPR Evaluating of Rheumatologic Patients' Views on Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation Programs: A Pilot Study
Authors: S. Karaca, Ö. Ipek, B. Bayar, K. Bayar
Journal: Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases (2016)

<h3>Background</h3> Rheumatologic diseases are one the state that causes loss of function, despite the use of very effective conservative and surgical approaches in treatment in recent years (1). In physiotherapy and rehabilitation of rheumatologic diseases, protecting the patients9 functional status for the prevention of disability improves the quality of life of patients (2). Therefore, it is very important that practice of physiotherapy and rehabilitation starts and implements with medical treatment as early as possible (1,2). <h3>Objectives</h3> The aim of this study was to assess rheumatologic patients9 knowledge, expectation and satisfaction about physiotherapy and rehabilitation programs. <h3>Methods</h3> In this study, 36 rheumatologic patients participated voluntarily who attended physiotherapy and rehabilitation programs in various health centers. The data on age, gender, economic status, diagnosis, habits of the participating individuals were recorded by researchers. For assessing the patients9 views on physiotherapy and rehabilitation program, a questionarre was prepared by researchers which investigated patients9 level of knowledge about their diseases, physiotherapists9 duties, the aims of the applied treatment modalities. Also, the questionarre included the questions which examined patients9 expectations, complaints and level of satisfaction for physiotherapy and rehabilitation program, changes in health quality and daily life after rehabilitation. The questionnaire was administered face to face to the volunteers. <h3>Results</h3> Of the 36 patients included, 20 (55.5%) were female and 16 (44.5%) were men. The mean age of individuals was 47.58 ± 11:23. 60% of rheumatologic patients expressed that physiotherapists did not define the therapists9 duties and rehabilitation programme. 72% of rheumatologic patients expressed that physiotherapists did not explain the purpose of the treatment modalities. 46% of rheumatologic patients expressed that they did not know the importance of rehabilitation. A significant positive correlation was found between increasing of physiotherapists9 explanations which were related to rehabilitation program and patients9 satisfaction (p&lt;0.05). It was determined that patients who graduated from university were more conscious about their diseases and attended therapy sessions more regularly. 78% of patients who began to work with physiotherapist in acute period stated that rehabilitation programme facilitated their daily life. 23% of patients who began to work with physiotherapist in chronic period stated that rehabilitation programme facilitated their daily life. A significant positive correlation was found between starting home exercise programme in acute period and reduction of patients9 complaints (p&lt;0.05). The common proposal of rheumatologic patients to physical therapists was that introducing and explaining of rehabilitation programme in all respects. <h3>Conclusions</h3> This study indicates that when rheumatologic patients start to work with physiotherapists in acute period and physiotherapists inform their patients about therapy in every respects, improvements of patients increase in daily life. <h3>References</h3> Nicholas JJ. Rehabilitation of patients with rheumatological disorders. In: Braddom RL (ed): Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. Philadelphia, WB Saunders. 2000 pp 743–61 Tıkız C. Rheumatoid arthritis rehabilitation. Turkey Clinics. J Int Med Sci 2006;2(45):21–30. <h3>Disclosure of Interest</h3> None declared