A Survey on Health Promoting Lifestyle Patterns and Self-Care Activities of Patients with Rheumatic Disease

류마티스 환자의 건강증진 생활양식과 자기간호행위

This study was designed to explore health promoting lifestyle patterns (HPLP) and self-care activities and identify related variables of patients with rheumatic disease. One hundred fifty rheumatic patients were recruited from two university based rheumatic centers according to selection criteria. Collected data were analyzed using SAS program through which with a structured questionnaire. T-test. ANOVA, and Pearson correlation coefficients were tested. The results were as follows: 1. The mean HPLP score of the subjects was 2.71, showed significant differences with economic condition and educational level. The better economic condition and more educated, showed the higher HPLP score. 2. They showed the highest practices in nutrition(mean score=3.11), and the lowest practices in exercise(mean score = 1.99). 3. The mean self-care activity score of the subjects was 3.36, showed significant differences with economic condition and educational level. The better economic condition and more educated, showed the higher self-care activity score. 4. The HPLP score of the subjects showed positive correlations with self-care activity score(r= .66). Developing health promotion programs focused on exercise and stress management is recommended not only for better health practices of patients with rheumatic disease but also for enhancing their level of well-being and life satisfaction.