Impact of Osteoarthritis in the Quality of Life of Elderly Patients: Challenge on Professional Healthcare Formation and Practice

In Puerto Rico, a country with a large elderly population, it is imperative for healthcare professionals and students in nursing and related health fields to be duly trained with the necessary skills and competencies to deal with this growing population. Rethinking of care plans, responsibilities, models and interventions must be reinforced to accomplish healthcare needs of the geriatric sector. This is an ineludible challenge in elderly caregiving. This quantitative study with a transversal, descriptive design was carried out with elderly patients of osteoarthritis located in the Metropolitan area of San Juan, Puerto Rico. Its objective was to identify the possible relationship between osteoarthritis and the quality of life of this population. The representative sample consisted of 380 elderly patients, 36.6% male and 61.3% female. Eight participants did not specify their gender (2.1%). A relationship was found between osteoarthritis and quality of life. Namely, this condition was found to have a negative impact in the quality of life of elderly patients. Poverty and lack of treatment options are aspects to consider, whereas the most affected areas are the hands and knees, impairing mobility and patients’ ability to carry out activities of their daily living. This affects both their independence and daily coexistence, with a greater impact on women. This aspect of gender should be further scrutinized in future investigations. Aging population, particularly those with a chronic disease such as osteoarthritis, impose more and new challenges in the formation of health care students and the professional practice in general. Key-Words: Nursing Education, Management, Nursing Competencies, Degree, Quality of Life, Elderly Patients, Osteoarthritis. a Universidad Metropolitana (SUAGM, Puerto Rico-United States); b Universidad de Málaga (Spain). Correspondence: Luisa Esther Mestre Castro, Universidad Metropolitana, PO Box 21150, San Juan, PR 00928, Puerto Rico (United States). lumestre@suagm.edu