Examining the impact of self-efficacy on pain, kinesiophobia, functional recovery, and quality of life in patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty

Aim: This study aimed to determine the effects of self-efficacy on pain, kinesiophobia, functional recovery, and quality of life in patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty (TKA). Materials and Methods: The study is a prospective follow-up investigation. The study included 145 patients who underwent TKA. The data was collected using the Personal Information Form, the Visual Analog Scale (VAS), the Pain Self-Efficacy Questionnaire (PSEQ), the Tampa Scale for Kinesiophobia (TSK), The Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Arthritis Index (WOMAC), and the SF-12 scale. Data were collected before, after, and in the first and third months after surgery. Descriptive statistics and univariate analysis were used to analyze the data. Results: The study group's mean age was 66.246.99 years, and 77.9% of them were female. From the initial measurement to the last measurement period, it was found that the VAS-resting and VAS-activity pain values, TSK, and WOMAC Osteoarthritis Index total and sub-dimension scores reduced, and the difference was statistically significant (p<0.05). Pain Self-Efficacy Scale, SF-12 physical and mental summary scores increased from the first measurement to the last measurement, and the difference was statistically significant (p<0.05). In addition, there was a negative correlation between the pre-operative, postoperative, first month and third-month AAQ scores and VAS-rest and VAS-activity pain, TSK, WOMAC sub-dimensions, and a positive correlation between SF-12 physical and mental summary scores (p<0.05). Conclusion: As a result of the study, it was found that the pain self-efficacy levels of the patients increased, their pain intensity and kinesiophobia decreased, and their functional recovery and quality of life improved.