SELF-CARE AGENCY AND FACTORS AFFECTING THIS IN PATiENTS WITH RHEUMA TOlDARTHRITIS

Objective: because of rheumatoid arthritis negative effects on all organs and systems as well as joint involvement, ra patients has important difficulties in performing activities of daily living and these problems adversely affect the self-care agency. the aim of this study is to determine self­ care agency and the factors affecting the self-care agency of patients with rheumatoid arthritis.methods: a total of 136 rheumatoid arthritis patients who agreed to participate in the study, can communicate and fill all the questionnaire and admitted rheumatology outpatient clinic of a university hospital, were included in the study. the data were collected by patient information, the self-care agency scale and the health assessment questionnaire (haq health assessment quality). self-core agency scale total score reduction indicates deterioration of self-care. health assessment questionnaire scores ranged from 0-3 points and with the increase in scores functional impairment rises. to compare continuous variables, frequency, mann-whitney u, kruska/1 wallis and spearmen correlation tests were used.results: it 1s found that, the mean age of the patients who participate in the study were 53.61± 13.98 years, the mean duration of disease were 7.31±7.55 years, 64.7% were women and 79.4% were married. self-care management agency; average score were determined as 89.42 ±18.67 and were found to be intermediate level. patients with rheumatoid arthritis who are single and suffering fromjoint swelling, fatigue, sleep problems and burnout self-care agency mean score was found to be significantly lower. when patients das28 and the vas mean pain score raised, patients self-core agency mean score was found to be significantly lower.conclusion: as a result, self-care agency of ra patients determined to be moderate. patients self-core agency was found to be worse whose with swelling in the joints, fatigue, sleep problems, pain, burnout and high disease activity.