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This study was conducted to identify the relationships among self-care agency, family support, quality of life in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. The subjects were 120 rheumatoid arthritis patients who attended RA O.P.D. at a university hospital, located in Daegu city, from 10th of May in 1998 to 30th of July in 1998. Three structure questionnaires were administered for explore three main research variables: 소향숙´s self-care agency scale. 강현숙´s family support scale, and 김종임´s quality of life scale of RA patien.
Data analysis was conducted with SPSS program including percentage, mean, standard deviation, mean score, Pearson Correlation Coefficient, multiple regression, and Cronbach´s Alpha.
Results are summarized as follows :
1. The mean of RA patient´s self-care agency was 136.62, the mean of family support 37.38, and the mean of quality of life 134.41.
2. Subject´s self-care agency was positively correlated with family support (r=.2446) and with quality of life(r=.4341). Subject´s family support was positively correlated with quality of life(r=.2630)
3. Stepwise multiple regression was used to determine the predictors of subject´s quality of life. Significant predictors for subject´s quality of life were self-care agency(t=4.873 p=0.0000), family support(t=4.480 p=0.0000) and the severity of arthralgia(t=-3.838, p=0.0002). The number of joints involved and the periods of illness did not show significant contribution to subject´s quality of life. Self-care agency, family support, and family support explained 40. 39% of the variance in RA patient´s quality of life.
Given this results, it is suggested that a repeated study to measure RA patient´s self-care practice in their own life may be needed to develope and validate an optimum level of nursing intervention for RA patient with which family support will be encouraged and patient´s self-care agency will be facilitated.
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