Health talk Report

HEALTH TALK REPORT
Topic: Educating the patients from Mbhokota village about Osteoarthritis
Background
Osteoarthritis is also known as the degenerative arthritis and is mostly related to aging, with aging the water content of the cartilage increases, and the protein make up of cartilage degenerates. Eventually the cartilage begins to degenerates by flaking or forming tiny crevases.In advanced cases, there is a total loss of cartilage cushion between the bones of the joints. Repetitive use of the joints over years can irritate and inflame the cartilage, causing joint pain and swelling. Loss of the cartilage cushion causes friction between the bones, leading to pain and limitation of joint mobility. Inflammation of the cartilage can also stimulate new bone outgrowths to form around the joints. A occasionally can develop in multiple members of the same family, implying a hereditary (genetic) basis of this condition (http://www.medicinet.com/osteoarthritis/article)
Reasons for the health talk
During the day of screening at Mbhokota clinic many patients were asking many question about this osteoarthritis, they wanted to know how do we know that a patient has OA and the causes ,then I have realised that they don`t have knowledge about this OA and I have decided to educate them about OA, causes, signs and symptoms, treatment and exercises and the importance of doing these exercises.
Aim of the talk
To educate the patients from Mbhokota village about Osteoarthritis.
Targeted populations
All the patients suffering from Osteoarthritis from Mbhokota village attending clinic at Mbhokota and Elim hospital.
Objectives
.To educate the patients about Osteoarthritis
.To educate the patients about the causes of OA
.To educate the patients about the signs and symptoms of OA
.To educate the patients about the treatment of OA including the exercises
Tools used
Posters and anatomical model from the physiotherapy department and a camera were used.
Method
The information was delivered to the patients in the form of a lecture and demonstration of exercises


Ethical consideration
A permission letter was written to the sister in charge of Mbokota clinic and permission was granted to go ahead with the health talk and also consent form was issued to the patients to sign before start with the talk and to allow us to take pictures.
Recommendations
I recommended that the following groups of physiotherapy students should continue giving lectures about OA and issue pamphlets about OA,i also recommended that the physiotherapy department should conduct OA classes at the hospital and at the clinics during their visits Acknowledgements
.Acknowledgement to my supervisor for arranging the transport to the clinic and for helping with the preparation s for the task
.Acknowledgement to the sister in charge for granting me the permission to conduct a health talk at the clinic
.Acknowledgement to the patients for giving me the opportunity to conduct a health talk
.Acknowledgements to my colleagues for assisting with preparation and taking pictures
.Acknowledgement to the Elim hospital physiotherapy department for allowing me to use their posters and the anatomical model