Abstract

Purpose: This study was to find out the relationships between helplessness and health behavior of patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Method: The subjects were 293 rheumatoid arthritis patients who visit 2 rheumatology outpatient clinics in G city. Data were collected by questionnaires including Arthritis helplessness index(Nicassio, Wallston, Callahan, Herbert, & Pincus, 1985)and health behavior assessment scale(Jo, Oh & Choe, 2000). The data were analyzed with Pearson correlation coefficient, t-test, ANOVA and Duncan's multiple range test. Results: The majority of the subjects were women and the mean age was 50.4years. The mean duration of illness was 8.9years. There were negative correlations between the degree of helplessness and the degree of health behavior. The degree of helplessness was significantly high in those who were older, female, less educated, out of workforce, and those who had no chances to attend any arthritis-related classes. The degree of health behavior was significantly low in those who were older, high school graduate, in higher economic status, married, and those who had chances to attend arthritis-related classes. Conclusion: To reduce the helplessness of rheumatoid arthritis patients, the nursing intervention which is to increase the health behavior should be developed and provided to the rheumatoid arthritis patients.

Keywords

• Helplessness;
• Health behavior

• 무기력;
• 건강행위;