A Nurse-Led App-Based Home Exercise Program After Total Knee Arthroplasty: A Quasi-Experimental Study

Area of Science:

• Orthopedics
• Rehabilitation Nursing
• Digital Health

Background:

• Reduced physical activity due to pain is a significant challenge post-total knee arthroplasty (TKA).
• Effective home exercise programs are crucial for optimal recovery and patient outcomes after TKA.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of a nurse-led, app-based home exercise program for patients following TKA.
• To compare outcomes between an app-based program and traditional education.

Main Methods:

• A nonequivalent control group, pretest-posttest design was employed with 45 TKA patients.
• The experimental group used an app with exercise videos and push notifications, while the control group received standard face-to-face education.
• Measurements included pain, range of motion, exercise self-efficacy, quality of life, and nursing care satisfaction.

Main Results:

• The experimental group demonstrated significant reductions in pain intensity (p = .001) and improvements in range of motion (p < .001).
• Exercise self-efficacy (p = .034) and quality of life (p = .033) significantly increased in the app-based group.
• Nursing care satisfaction was substantially higher in the experimental group compared to the control group (p < .001).

Conclusions:

• App-based home exercise programs, guided by nurses, can effectively alleviate pain and enhance physical function after TKA.
• This digital approach improves exercise adherence, self-efficacy, and overall patient satisfaction with nursing care.
• Rehabilitation nurses can leverage technology to optimize TKA recovery and patient experience.