Abstract
OBJECTIVE: In this study, we evaluated the effectiveness of health education based on the transtheoretical model in reducing symptoms of kinesiophobia and enhancing rehabilitation outcomes among elderly patients post-total knee arthroplasty. METHODS: Elderly patients post-knee replacement surgery were randomly divided into a control group, which received standard health education, and an experimental group, which received transtheoretical model-based health education. The intervention commenced on the day after surgery and continued for a duration of six months. Assessments of kinesiophobia scores, rehabilitation self-efficacy, and knee function were conducted before the intervention, and then at one, three, and six months postoperatively. RESULTS: Between January 2022 and December 2022, 130 elderly patients who met the eligibility criteria were enrolled and subsequently randomly assigned into two groups of equal size. Comparable baseline characteristics were observed between the two groups The experimental group demonstrated lower kinesiophobia scores and higher scores in rehabilitation self-efficacy and knee function at one, three, and six months following surgery, compared to the control group. CONCLUSION: Health education based on a transtheoretical model reduces the symptoms of kinesiophobia and enhances rehabilitation self-efficacy and knee functions in elderly patients after knee replacement surgery.