J Korean Biol Nurs Sci > Volume 17(2); 2015 > Article
Journal of Korean Biological Nursing Science 2015;17(2):123-131.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.7586/jkbns.2015.17.2.123    Published online May 31, 2015.
The Effect of Laughter Therapy on Arthralgia, Ankylosis, Depression, and Sleep of Elderly Housebound Women with Osteoarthritis
Kim, Chung Soon , Jang, Sook Hi , Cho, You Young
1Department of Nursing, Hanyeong College, Yeosu, Korea. jskim4670@hanmail.net
2Department of Nursing, Cheongam College, Sunchon, Korea.
Abstract
PURPOSE
The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of laughter therapy on arthralgia, ankylosis, depression and sleep of elderly housebound women suffering from osteoarthritis.
METHODS
The study used a nonequivalent control group pretest-posttest design. The participants were 48 elderly women: 23 in the experimental group and 25 in the control group. The experimental group received laughter therapy twice a week for 4 weeks. The results were analyzed by using chi2-test, ANCOVA, and t-test with the SPSS/WIN 21.0 program.
RESULTS
The results showed that laughter therapy had a significant statistical effective in reducing arthralgia, ankylosis, and depression and improving the quality of sleep as evidenced by the differences between the two groups.
CONCLUSION
The results of this study indicated that laughter therapy is an effective nursing intervention reducing arthralgia, ankylosis, and depression and improving the quality of sleep in these women. Therefore, it is necessary to develop laughter therapy as an independent nursing intervention for elderly women with osteoarthritis who are housebound.
Key Words: Laughter Therapy, Arthralgia, Ankylosis, Depression, Sleep


ABOUT
ARTICLES AND ISSUES
EDITORIAL POLICIES
FOR CONTRIBUTORS
Editorial Office
Department of Nursing Science, Chungbuk National University,
1, Chungdae-ro, Seowon-gu, Cheongju-si, Chungcheongbuk-do, Republic of Korea, 28644
Tel: +82-43-249-1797    Fax: +82-43-266-1710    E-mail: jkbns@jkbns.org                

Copyright © Korean Society of Biological Nursing Science.

Developed in M2PI