EFFECTIVENESS OF HEAL NURSING STRATEGY ON PAIN AND FUNCTIONAL ABILITY AMONG ADULTS WITH KNEE OSTEOARTHRITIS: A PILOT REPORT.

Knee osteoarthritis is a form of degenerative disease affecting the elderly population worldwide. A quantitative quasi experimental study was conducted to find the reliability and feasibility of tool and intervention with 44 samples selected through convenience sampling technique for experimental and control group in orthopedic wards of SVMCHRC, Puducherry. The patients aged between 55-65 years, both gender with clinical symptoms of mild and moderate knee osteoarthritis were included as samples. Demographic and clinical data were collected by structured questionnaires. The Pain and Functional ability were assessed by using Numerical pain intensity scale and modified WOMAC osteoarthritis Index. The HEAL (Hot application, exercise, and education on activity and limitation) nursing strategy was implemented to experimental group (22 patients). The patients were followed for one week. After a week, post test conducted with same questionnaires. The results revealed that the tools used, set criteria for sample selection, the implementation of interventions were highly reliable and feasible for implementation.