A Study to Evaluate the Effectiveness of Aloe Vera Gel on Pain Perception among Patients with Osteoarthritis at Selected Communities in Kanyakumari District

Abstract

Aim: to evaluate the effectiveness of Aloe Vera gel on pain perception among patients with osteoarthritis in selected communities at Kanyakumari district. Objectives: (i) To assess and compare the pre-test and post-test level of pain perception among patients with osteoarthritis in experimental and control group. (ii) To evaluate the effectiveness of Aloe Vera gel on level of pain perception among patients with osteoarthritis in experimental group. (iii) To find out the association between the post-test level of pain perception among patients with osteoarthritis in experimental group and control group with the selected demographic variables. A Quasi experimental, non-equivalent, pre test and post test control group design was adopted. The convenience sampling technique was used to select 30 samples for experimental group and 30 samples for control group. OARSI (osteoarthritis research society international) questionnaire was used to assess the osteoarthritic pain. Aloe Vera gel was applied locally on painful areas for 28 consequent days and post test was conducted on 28th day by using OARSI questionnaire. The data were gathered and analyzed by descriptive and inferential statistical method. The findings revealed that during pre test 20(67%) of them had moderate pain, 10(33%) of them had mild pain. During post test 19(63%) of them were in mild pain, 11(37%) of them were in moderate pain. The mean score on level of pain perception among patients with osteoarthritis was 33.3 in pre test and 22 in post test. The estimated t’ value was 8.99* which is significant at p < 0.05. It shows that local application of Aloe Vera gel was effective in reducing the level of pain perception among osteoarthritis pain. Hence the research hypothesis H1 is retained. This study statistically proved the pain reducing effect of Aloe Vera gel on Osteoarthritic patients at 5% significant level. The researcher concluded that Aloe Vera gel application is a non pharmacological, cost effective and very practicable measure to reduce the level of pain perception among patients with osteoarthritis. Keywords: Aloe Vera gel, Pain perception, Osteoarthritis.