Document Type

Thesis - University Access Only

Award Date

2000

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department / School

Graduate Nursing

Abstract

The purpose of this t-test design study is to describe the relationship between levels of fatigue and joint pain during the luteal phase of the ovarian cycle in child-bearing women diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Iwu. groups of child-bearing women in the rural midwest completed a visual analogue scale rating fatigue and joint pain throughout two menstrual cycles during the months of January, February, March and April. One group consisted of child-bearing women with a diagnoses of rheumatoid arthritis and without a familial history of the disease. The second group consisted of child-bearing women free of rheumatoid arthritis and without familial a familial history of the disease. Statistical analysis using t-test found significant differences in the mean fatigue and pain scores between women with RA and women without RA over the entire ovarian cycle. There was no significant difference between the fatigue and pain scores within groups during the luteal phase compared to the menstrual phase of the ovarian cycle.

Library of Congress Subject Headings

Rheumatoid arthritis
Women -- Diseases
Fatigue
Pain

Format

application/pdf

Number of Pages

68

Publisher

South Dakota State University

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