Effect of Counseling on Quality of Life and Self-Care Agency for Patients Who are Scheduled for Total Knee Replacement.

This study aims to determine the effect of counseling on quality of life and self-care agency for patients who are scheduled for total knee replacement (TKR). The study has a quantitative and quasi-experimental design with a control group. The patients in the control group ( n  = 40) received routine care. Face-to-face and telephone counseling was offered to individuals in the intervention group ( n  = 39). The data was collected at face-to-face interviews by using a patient characteristics form, Quality of Life Scale, and Self-Care Agency Scale. The scores for quality of life and self-care agency in the 6th to 8th and 14th to 16th weeks after surgery were very significantly higher in the intervention group than in the control group ( p  < .001). This study shows that counseling given by the nurse increases the quality of life and self-care agency of patients undergoing TKR.