Effectiveness of Client-Centered Occupational Therapy in Patients With Rheumatoid Arthritis: Exploratory Randomized Controlled Trial
Eda TONGA1, Tülin DÜGER2, Metin KARATAŞ3
1Department of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation, Başkent University, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ankara, Turkey
2Department of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation, Hacettepe University, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ankara, Turkey
3Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Medical Faculty of Başkent University, Ankara, Turkey
Keywords: Client-centered approach, occupational therapy, rheumatoid arthritis
Abstract
Objectives: This study aims to examine the effectiveness of client-centered occupational therapy in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).
Patients and methods: The study included 40 patients (2 males, 38 females; range 39 to 60 years) with RA. Patients were divided into two groups as intervention group (n=20) and control group (n=20) by random sampling method. Each group was given 10 sessions of physical therapy program. In addition, the intervention group received client-centered occupational therapy. Patients were evaluated with Turkish versions of Short-Form McGill Pain Questionnaire, Health Assessment Questionnaire, The Arthritis Impact Measurement Scales 2, RA Quality of Life Questionnaire, and Canadian Occupational Performance Measurement.
Results: Pain, activity limitation, and participation restriction scores decreased significantly more in the intervention group compared to the control group. Also, quality of life increased significantly in the intervention group (p<0.05).
Conclusion: Our findings suggest that occupational therapy intervention reduces activity limitation and participation restrictions in patients with RA. Therefore, such interventions may be generalized for this patient group.
The authors declared no conflicts of interest with respect to the authorship and/or publication of this article.
The authors received no financial support for the research and/or authorship of this article.