Family Nursing Care For Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients With Ineffective Family Health Management Problems

Abstract

Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) is a chronic and progressive joint inflammation that can significantly reduce a patient's quality of life. Based on outpatient visit records from the 2024 Non-Communicable Disease (PTM) report book at UPTD Pekan Heran Public Health Center, there were 59 patients diagnosed with RA. One of the main issues faced by patients is ineffective family health management, mainly due to limited knowledge among family members regarding the disease and its care. This study aimed to describe family nursing care for RA patients with ineffective family health management. The research method used was a descriptive case study with a nursing process approach, including assessment, nursing diagnosis, planning, implementation, and evaluation. The subjects were two families with RA patients in the working area of UPTD Pekan Heran Public Health Center. The results showed that prior to the intervention, families had difficulty providing care and lacked understanding of the disease. After six sessions of nursing interventions, including health education and coping support, there was an improvement in knowledge and family involvement in patient care. However, one subject still demonstrated suboptimal comprehension.In conclusion, appropriate family nursing care can improve the family's ability to manage the health of members with RA. It is recommended that continuous education and regular monitoring by healthcare professionals be provided to help families become more independent and effective in patient care.